Gospel Koan 80.3

Reciprocal Altruism

Koan 80.3

The principle of reciprocity is do ut des: 'I give as you give', hence reciprocal altruism: 'reciprocating [the] practice of others'.

Summary Exposition

The central mechanism is the establishment of relational equilibrium through the reciprocal exchange of actions, where each entity's response mirrors and reinforces the other's, thereby stabilizing their shared field of interaction. A single, potent example is a conversation: a question begets an answer, a story begets a story; this reciprocal exchange of information builds a stable, collaborative reality, whereas a non-reciprocal monologue shatters the dynamic. The implication is that reciprocity is the fundamental ontological process for building and maintaining sustainable patterns—from trust between individuals to complex societal agreements. It is the active, iterative practice that prevents the 'conference of difference' from collapsing into chaos or domination, transforming potential conflict into coordinated being.

The Gospel of Being

by John Mackay

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