Occasionally one will hear of long sequences of people patronizing a coffee shop who will anonymously pay in advance for the next person in line,who in turn may pay for the next person.In one instance,a continuous chain of paying for the next person lasted for eleven hours.To which aspect of morality does this practice MOST closely relate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The practice of paying for the next person in line is an example of reciprocal altruism, as each person is voluntarily providing a benefit to a stranger with the expectation of that benefit being returned to them (in this case, someone else paying for their order in the future). This concept is often discussed in the context of evolutionary biology and game theory. While aspects of selfless altruism and kin altruism may be present in the actions of some individuals participating in the chain, the overall behavior is best described as reciprocal altruism. Smithian capitalism, a reference to the economic philosophy of Adam Smith, does not apply in this situation.

Occasionally One Will Hear of Long Sequences of People Patronizing