The article discusses five mechanisms for the evolution of cooperation: kin selection, direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, network reciprocity, and group selection. Each mechanism is described using a 2x2 payoff matrix, from which simple rules are derived to determine whether cooperation can evolve. Kin selection, based on Hamilton's rule (r > c/b), favors cooperation among genetic relatives. Direct reciprocity, exemplified by the tit-for-tat strategy, requires repeated encounters between the same individuals. Indirect reciprocity, which relies on reputation, allows cooperation in asymmetric and fleeting interactions. Network reciprocity, where cooperators form clusters, is influenced by the average number of neighbors (b/c > k). Group selection, where groups of cooperators outperform defectors, is governed by the condition b/c > 1 + n/m. The article also introduces measures of evolutionary success, such as evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), risk dominance (RD), and advantage (AD), and provides a comparative analysis of the five mechanisms.The article discusses five mechanisms for the evolution of cooperation: kin selection, direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, network reciprocity, and group selection. Each mechanism is described using a 2x2 payoff matrix, from which simple rules are derived to determine whether cooperation can evolve. Kin selection, based on Hamilton's rule (r > c/b), favors cooperation among genetic relatives. Direct reciprocity, exemplified by the tit-for-tat strategy, requires repeated encounters between the same individuals. Indirect reciprocity, which relies on reputation, allows cooperation in asymmetric and fleeting interactions. Network reciprocity, where cooperators form clusters, is influenced by the average number of neighbors (b/c > k). Group selection, where groups of cooperators outperform defectors, is governed by the condition b/c > 1 + n/m. The article also introduces measures of evolutionary success, such as evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), risk dominance (RD), and advantage (AD), and provides a comparative analysis of the five mechanisms.