Human ultrasociality rests on cultural moral systems and reciprocity rather than kin selection.

Evidence

In contrast to other examples of ultrasociality19–22 (for example, clones, bee hives or termite colonies), human cooperation is due less to kin selection than to cultural forces rooted in pervasive moral systems. From hunter tribes and village communities to nation states and global enterprises, the economic effects of nepotism, although certainly present, are minor compared with those of reciprocity. — Nowak, M. A., & Sigmund, K, Evolution of Indirect Reciprocity by…, 6

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The claim that human complexity owes less to kinship than to moralized reciprocity marks a genuine distinction from other ultrasocial species.
• XREF: connects to: Cooperation rests on coercion, interests, values, and personal bonds — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 2202; Reciprocity motivations can be self-reinforcing where further interactions are plentiful; Moral trust requires temporally stable social contexts to operate (+8 more)

Related

• Only humans achieved ultra-sociality within the last 12,000 years (similarity 0.84)
• Kinship and reciprocity alone cannot explain large-scale human cooperation (similarity 0.82)
• Gratitude alone is insufficient; humans must rebuild cultures of reciprocity. (similarity 0.81)
• Self-regulation, not fairness alone, enables prosocial culture. (similarity 0.80)
• Kin selection explains cooperation only among genetically related relatives (similarity 0.80)
• Reciprocated cooperation teaches one to internalize others’ interests (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Reciprocity motivations can be self-reinforcing where further interactions are plentiful #expands (0.80)
• Moral trust requires temporally stable social contexts to operate #qualifies (0.80)
• Coercion and interests alone compel cooperation even without shared values #contradicts (0.80)
• Cooperation rests on coercion, interests, values, and personal bonds #corroborates (0.75) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 2202