Scientific Suggestion for STS and STO

[Lavazza]

Eh, I'm not so sure about the premise given by Newscientist that generosity is a product of the brain. Remember that Newscientist, being Newscientist, is not written with any sort of spiritual premises in place, nor (I suspect) much consideration of separation of body and mind. Richard Dawkins, for example, also tries very hard to explain the range of human behaviors, motivations and actions by studying only the body. The result he came to is what he calls the 'Selfish Gene'. Basically that everything we do stems from sort sort of selfishness, even supposed STO actions. I have no doubt that if asked about those who donate large sums of money to charities he would come back to an explanation about how our primitive mind evolved in pack societies where giving was viewed as a means of gaining security from fellow tribe members. The whole thing makes me a bit ill. :-/

Then again, the brain may well play some role, I will not rule it out. I just suspect, having not done extensive research, that such traits are more 'out there' than 'in here'.