Group Selection 2.0 - Baba Brinkman

Tribal unity styles

Darwin’s right

The logic’s tight

Tribes that unite win

The evolutionary fight

«Survival of the fittest» that phrase gets twisted

All the time to justify the meager existence

That poor people live with;

it gets enlisted

By social parasites just in it for self-interest

Like psychopaths and eugenicists

And deregulated traders of economic derivatives

But listen, «Social Darwinism»

Is not scientific, it’s a kind of sickness

Just ‘cause something exists in a state of nature

Doesn’t give it a moral basis;

that’s a false correlation

Competition is a great motivator

But humans are social, we’re supercooperators

Why?

‘Cause we survive or we die in groups

And the survivors make the best combined moves

So, can’t we all just get along

Whatever we try and do?

Everybody’s thinkin' survival, no

Makin' everybody their rival, no

Unite the tribe, and we will rise

Together, together

Yeah, group selection puts me in an altruistic mood

So don’t try to tell me that I’m just confused

Haven’t you ever been part of a synergistic group

That’s just 'in the groove'?

Like: Yeah, love thy neighbour!

What’s that?

You need some sugar?

Okay, come by later!

Of course I’ll do you a favour;

why’s that?

‘Cause I’ve got the compassion of a vampire bat

If you need some food, I’ll do what I can

So what if we’re not related;

you’re still my man

You’re still my sister;

I feel high, man!

This universal love is good stuff, god damn!

This isn’t wishful thinking y’all

This is how altruism evolves

Some people say group selectionism is false

But I say let the evidence call it

Everybody’s thinkin' survival, no

Makin' everybody their rival, no

Unite the tribe, and we will rise

Together, together

There ain’t no need for direct reciprocation either

Because «karma» is a sophisticated teacher

Karma isn’t just energy waves in the ether!

No, karma’s in the way everyone hates a cheater

Cheater detection will keep you in check when

People feel like you don’t treat ‘em with respect

So go ahead and run me down

‘Cause I believe what goes around comes around

You wanna be a pariah?

That’s fine with me

Liars and thieves and those who try to deceive

Get dealt with by reputation and by the police

All the immune systems of society

And «survival of the fittest»?

Don’t it baffle you

«Fitness» is just another word for «aptitude»

Between you and the habitat you’re adapted to

So try to relax, and adapt your attitude

The habitat you have to adapt to is the group

‘Cause without the group, man, you would be panther food

So stop asking what the group can do for you

And ask what you can do for the group

Is that cool?

Everybody’s thinkin' survival, no

Makin' everybody their rival, no

Unite the tribe, and we will rise

Together, together

Back to back

We unite the wolfpack

Unite the tribe, and we will rise

Together, together