Re:In Retrospect: The Selfish Gene
by robotresearcher on Friday January 29, 2016 @07:29PM
(#10999729)
> wilfully blind to the fact that for 99+% of the time evolution does not operate at the level of individuals
TSG hypothesis is that evolution happens at the level of genes (or memes, or whatever the replicant unit is). Not individuals, not groups, but genes. The individual level and group level evolutionary effects we see emerge from this, since a gene's prospects become intertwined with those of its neighbours. It is not well-described as a western, individualistic view. The 'selfish' is misleading if the negative value of the word is taken literally. Genes have no agency. The neo-darwinian view is simple but subtle, and is not well taught in schools. TSG is a great introduction to this way of thinking.
TSG hypothesis is that evolution happens at the level of genes (or memes, or whatever the replicant unit is). Not individuals, not groups, but genes. The individual level and group level evolutionary effects we see emerge from this, since a gene's prospects become intertwined with those of its neighbours. It is not well-described as a western, individualistic view. The 'selfish' is misleading if the negative value of the word is taken literally. Genes have no agency. The neo-darwinian view is simple but subtle, and is not well taught in schools. TSG is a great introduction to this way of thinking.