Even without the guidance of organized religion, some animals instinctively know that it's a good thing to help others.
即使没有类似人类宗教的指引,有些动物仍能本能地救助处于危难中的其它动物。
For example, when a bird spots a predator, instead of just flying away, it calls out in alarm and warns everyone in the vicinity.
比如,一只小鸟发现了捕食者,它就会发出叫声以警示和提醒附近其它的小动物们。
When a dolphin is injured, other dolphins help it swim up to the surface and get some air.
如果一只海豚受伤了,那么其他海豚也会帮助它一直游到岸边以呼吸新鲜空气。
And in a lab experiment that was set up so that one rat had to sit on a platform or else his rat friends would get an electrical shock when they tried to feed, the rats quickly learned to cooperate and take turns sitting on the platform.
在类似试验中,一只老鼠必须要坐在一个平台上以防止它的朋友们试图进食时被电击,很快老鼠们就学会了如何协作,它们轮流坐在平台上以防止同伴被电击。
You might think that evolution would work against this kind of altruism since, instead of concentrating on their own survival, animals spend time and energy helping others.
因为这些动物们不仅仅只关心自己的生命,也会花费时间与精力去帮助其他动物。所以,你可能会认为进化过程会有悖于这种利他主义。