Survival Of The Cooperative

The concept of survival of the fittest is sometimes misunderstood as the idea that a creature must be ruthless, selfish, and willing or eager to trample on other living things in order to be "fit" enough to survive.  Everything from casual conversation to fictional stories might reinforce this erroneous perception, but being fit to survive does not have to inevitably mean that one animal exploits or abandons others according to whatever is in its immediate interests.  At its core, the concept just entails that a being is fit to survive in some given situation, whatever the means of doing so (however logically or morally legitimate they are).  Those criteria that help that creature extend its life can significantly vary.

In one context, a person might be genuinely more prone to survive by expressing boldness or cruelty; in another context, a person might be more prone to survive by acting timid or reserved.  Physical strength, a thriving immune system, rationalistic intelligence, and sheer luck are among the traits or factors that could contribute to someone having a better chance of remaining alive, depending on the scenario.  So, too, would cooperating with others intentionally and wholeheartedly, contrary to a popular notion about the efficiency of the vicious survivalist who will use or brutalize anyone to stay alive.

Two or more people who can look out for each other can increase their prospects of survival immensely.  For instance, a lone person intent on survival out in "the wild" has no one to share pragmatic burdens with.  He or she must endeavor to find a secure place to sleep that does not leave them exposed to the elements or at heightened risk of unwanted attention from other animals, including fellow humans.  There is no one to act as a guard or watcher on their behalf, which at worst leaves them vulnerable in the case of an intruder.  Even a single additional person taking a turn watching while the other sleeps could bestow great advantages to both.

The strength or observational capacity of multiple people can easily surpass that of a person operating in solitude.  And what if sickness or injury befalls the lone survivalist?  They have no one to assist them in even the most basic actions, even actions that improve the likelihood of their recovery to fuller autonomy.  There are many logically possible survival situations and factors not addressed in this post, of course.  But, when directly confronted with scenarios like these, it is not unusual for people to acknowledge the benefits of cooperation with others when it comes to survival and more general ease of life.

The people in these situations who act cooperatively, though this does not make their beliefs or actions logically or morally valid in themselves, are certainly "fit" for survival in a sense.  Survival of the fittest has no singular manifestation.  Indeed, some people are more equipped mentally or physically to navigate a given perilous situation without losing their life.  One of the means of achieving this, especially in some circumstances, is working together with or directly caring for the needs of other people.