Reflections on the Notion of Cooperation

Abstract

Introduction:  At birth, human beings are immature, helpless and dependent on others.  Unlike other animals who can survive by themselves after a few hours of life, human babies need adults to help them to learn how to live.  Yet, humankind survived and adapted perfectly.  This is not solely because it has the ability to think and to communicate; it is also because it has the disposition to cooperate with peers in order to reach common aims and to act for the common good.  In fact, the essence of human societies - from the smallest cell (families) to the largest one (governments), is found in cooperative groups.