Did kindness evolve along with intelligence?

Great question! I agree, i do not believe kindness in people is inherent.

I think that many of the old world gods-- as mentioned-- were closer to being actual reflections of the men that created them; seen in many of the selfish, childish, and egocentric behaviors of the greek gods and others from the Nordic, druids, etc. Although it may have been inadvertant, i think that in your question you have also given what is probably the best argument for the value of modern day religion that i have ever heard; In that -- considering the brutality of the old world, and religion no doubt factoring in with intelligence and culture-- it is man's belief in some sort of greater good and/or higher power that often compel us to do the right things in life. If it were that the overall belief system shared by the vast majority of people (on some level) was one that held no form of afterlife and no ultimate consequences for our wrong-doings; and/or the gods worshiped are just as selfish and egocentric as their followers -there would be nothing to influence men to make any efforts in a positive way. Let's face it people are overall very selfish and ignorant, and most of the acts of kindness are done because they believe it is going to earn them favor in the eyes of their god. How many humans really would be kind, generous, or altruistic if they did not believe that it would have any effect whatsoever in where they end up after they die.

by the way, i just read the additional details prior to posting, so im not sure what the other answerers have said. I in no way took the question as a religious one, but when considering the question it occured to me that there are religious implications. I am Pagan, your religious beliefs do not make your question any less valid or interesting. So, anyone who tries to think they know you or what you are thinking based on reading your question (ive gotten that same bs over and over) does not have a clue what philosophy is about. Im glad that you do... so, keep it up, and for the rest that want to make judgements instead of learn -- they can all F*** off!

by the way, people, cats do not clean each other and other animals (with the exception of primates) to not have social groups because of kindness. Almost all animals do what they do as part of a learned set of behaviors which are intended by nature for two purposes. survival and propogation of the species. 1 cat does not clean another out of kindness... it does so, because its mother did it to the cat as it was a kitten to teach it how to clean itself. Bees are very social, so are ants, do you really think this is because they feel emotions for each other? The part of the brain that contains the emotional center in humans simply does not exist in those animals. If you are labotomized, you also will not feel emotion, however there are many behaviors that you would still act out physically as part of things youve learned in life but that are controlled by other parts of the brain. Although in normal life prior to the labotomization you may have attached emotion to a behavior, does not mean because the behavior still exists that the emotion does as well.

There is an evolution of awareness as well as an evolution of form. There is not evolution of intelligence. A stone aged man would do just as well learning astrophysics as you or I. Intelligence is inherent in the very atoms of creation and is not based on knowledge alone. One can cram a billion facts into a fool and it would not improve the intelligence.

The nature of things we do not create but rather discover. We are co-creators with the Universe and by applying our knowledge with what we have become aware of, we build our world. When we get it wrong all hell breaks out and when we get it right we experience harmony and peace and even joy.

We may not have started out knowing that kindness has a place on our world but over the years we have become aware that it is important to our happiness and joy. We didn't make it up but rather we discovered it to be true.

After tens of thousands of years most still don't realize it but enough do that it is still attempted.

Kindness has more aspects and has nothing to do with intelligence. Greek gods needed not to be loved, but feared; so people who created them thought kindness was not a necessary trait for them. Kindness is not only a human attribute, older than the times when humans tried to survive in a world of beasts. Even the animals show kindness to their friends or masters.

I find this analysis presumptuous, although I am mentally comparing it to my analysis that the ancients had no "subconscious." In the case of my question, ancient writings and mythologies are devoid of descriptions of underlying conflict or analytic self-awareness. Suddenly in the 16th century a ton of self-evaluation awareness appears on the scene.

I think because nobody remembers "Mithra Loves you" bumper stickers does not mean they did not exist, and my knowledge of mythology includes loves stories and parents sacrificing for their children. How do you distinguish these behaviors from what you are talking about? Hindu beliefs are at least as old as Greek and Roman religions and I suspect they have always included a measure of "love God, be loved by God" stylings.

It seems to me like you are saying that because Christian use a "cross" lets say, as a symbol that means that mankind has only recently discovered what a cross is.

I'm not buying it.

My two male unrelated cats clean each other and protect each other from other cats. Why would they do that if they are incapable of BEHAVING with kindness? (even I am not deluded that most animals OR people actually FEEL kindness.)

"If we watch nature, there is little "kindness" between animals"

Not so. All social species--all mammals, many birds, some insects, need to be able to get along or they can't survive. Evolution is not individualistic, it's by population. Sociability is more important overall for survival than "competition". I'm more sure of human and animal "kindness" than I am of "human intelligence"!

Well, as I'm sure you can see it's either "sin" creating it, or Satan, or they think that God made it to cure homosexuals or something (apparently they don't know that heterosexuals can get it too.) I would say just ignore them but, if you live where I live, you can't since they're trying to get this taught in schools next to more credible scientific theories.

Yes, it did. Kindness is a survival strategy and it is very necessary in one of humanities most effective strategies; cooperation. It is kindness that led to domestication of animals, the institution of farming and civilization itself.

We had kindness long before we had our present intelligence.

Altruism has been observed in social animals far down the

'intelligence' ladder.

ask yourself this instead. If a bunch of atoms and molecules are flying around in space, how do they POSSIBLY collect together and somehow BECOME KIND???

Is it possible an atheist can be any stupider than they are?

Settle down. I never said or even THOUGHT that you were an atheist. And what's with this religion/philosophy dichotomy? That is SO RAVEN!

And as far as that thumbs down? I know it was you, voice. You broke my heart!

and finally, voice, my point was that intelligence and kindness came FIRST. They didn't "evolve". Evolve from what? Atoms and molecules?

good lord. a second thumbs down. that's another one hundred dollars down the drain! these fines are KILLING ME!!!

No.