The Selfish Gene

The Selfish Gene
source
Name	The Selfish Gene
Author	Richard Dawkins
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Subject	Evolutionary biology, Ethology
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Pub date	1976
Media type	Print
Pages	224
Isbn	0-19-857519-X
Dewey	575.1
Congress	QH437 .D37
Oclc	2681149

The Selfish Gene. A 1976 book by Richard Dawkins, a fellow of New College, Oxford, which popularized a gene-centered view of evolution. Building on the foundational work of W.D. Hamilton, John Maynard Smith, and George C. Williams, it argues that natural selection acts primarily at the level of the gene, not the individual or group. The book introduced influential concepts like the "selfish gene" as a metaphor for replicators and coined the term "meme" for a unit of cultural transmission.

Overview

Published by Oxford University Press, the book synthesizes key ideas from the modern evolutionary synthesis and the emerging field of sociobiology. Dawkins, then a lecturer in zoology at the University of Oxford, aimed to explain the work of theorists like Robert Trivers on reciprocal altruism and John Maynard Smith on evolutionary game theory to a broad audience. Its publication followed significant debates in journals like *Nature* and *Proceedings of the Royal Society* and coincided with the publication of Edward O. Wilson's *Sociobiology: The New Synthesis*. The narrative frames evolution as a struggle for existence among replicating molecules, setting the stage for explaining complex behaviors in organisms from fruit flies to humans.

Central concepts

The core argument posits that the gene, defined as a length of DNA surviving through generations, is the fundamental unit of selection. This perspective explains phenomena like kin selection, famously modeled by W.D. Hamilton's rule, and seemingly altruistic acts in species such as the hymenoptera insects studied by E.O. Wilson. Dawkins elaborates on strategies like the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) developed by John Maynard Smith and George Price. The book also introduces the "extended phenotype," suggesting that genes can influence environments beyond the body, like the dams of beavers or the nests of sociable weavers. A seminal contribution was the coining of "meme," analogous to a gene, to describe the replication of ideas, tunes, or fashions within a culture.

Reception and influence

The book was met with both acclaim and controversy, quickly becoming a classic in popular science. It influenced a generation of biologists at institutions like Harvard University and the University of Cambridge and bolstered the research programs of scientists like Steven Pinker and Daniel Dennett. The concept of the meme later spawned the field of memetics and influenced digital culture, referenced in works by Susan Blackmore. It has been translated into over 25 languages and was listed by the Royal Society in 2017 as one of the most influential science books of all time. Its ideas permeated disciplines from psychology to economics, impacting thinkers at the Santa Fe Institute and beyond.

Criticisms and debates

Critics, including proponents of group selection like David Sloan Wilson and the late Stephen Jay Gould, argued the book presented an overly reductionist and deterministic view of biology. Philosophers such as Mary Midgley criticized the metaphorical use of "selfish" as misleading, sparking a famous exchange in the journal *Philosophy*. Debates continued in publications like The New York Review of Books concerning the levels of selection, engaging figures like John Gillespie and Richard Lewontin. Some ethologists, including Frans de Waal, contended it downplayed the role of empathy and cooperation observed in primates at places like the Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

Editions and related works

The first edition was followed by a second edition in 1989, which included endnotes and a response to critics. A 30th-anniversary edition in 2006 featured a new introduction by Dawkins and commentary by Daniel Dennett and Alan Grafen. Related works by Dawkins that expand on its themes include *The Extended Phenotype*, *The Blind Watchmaker*, and *River Out of Eden*. The book's legacy is also explored in volumes like *Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed the Way We Think*, a collection of essays by figures like Steven Pinker and James Watson. It remains a central text in discussions at venues like the Edge Foundation annual questions.

Category:1976 non-fiction books Category:Books about evolution Category:English non-fiction books Category:Popular science books