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Not all mutualism is fair, and not all fairness is mutualistic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2013

Alex Shaw  and
Joshua Knobe
Alex Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511. [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/alexshawyale/[email protected]
Joshua Knobe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511. [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/alexshawyale/[email protected]
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Abstract

The target article convincingly argues that mutualistic cooperation is supported by partner choice. However, we will suggest that mutualistic cooperation is not the basis of fairness; instead, fairness is based on impartiality. In support of this view, we show that adults are willing to destroy others' resources to avoid inequality, a result predicted by impartiality but not by mutualistic cooperation.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 100 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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