Richard Dawkins
The
Selfish
Gene
Cumulative Selection Simulator
Humanity.
We love. We fight. We sacrifice. We build civilizations.
We believe we are the masters of our own destiny.
MACHINERY.
We are survival machines.
Robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes.
But survival is not enough. To persist through time, the gene must ensure its copies survive in other vehicles.
THE LOGIC OF KINSHIP
Unconditional Love.
“A mother's love is the purest force in the universe. She sacrifices her sleep, her resources, her very body, just to see her child smile.”
KIN SELECTION.
> ANALYSIS: Parental Investment
The gene for saving a child will prosper in the gene pool because the child shares 50% of the parent's genes.
Altruism towards kin is not love—it is a calculation of genetic relatedness (r) multiplied by benefit (B) minus cost (C).
Yet, a vehicle cannot last forever. To truly conquer death, the gene must build a new vessel.
THE IMPERATIVE OF REPRODUCTION
Romance.
“They met by chance, but felt an instant connection. A spark. A soulmate. They are building a future together, driven by passion and commitment.”
SEXUAL SELECTION.
> ANALYSIS: Mate Value Assessment
Romance is a phenotype scanner. We look for indicators of genetic fitness: symmetry, vitality, resources.
In a crowded world, competition is costly. Sometimes, the most selfish move is to cooperate.
THE CALCULUS OF ALTRUISM
Heroism.
“Without a thought for his own safety, he rushed in to help. True altruism is the highest virtue of humanity—giving without expecting anything in return.”
RECIPROCAL ALTRUISM.
> ANALYSIS: Game Theory
"Nice guys" finish first only if they play Tit-for-Tat. Cooperation is a survival strategy, not a moral virtue.
We are the only survival machines that have discovered the truth about our own programming.
THE POSSIBILITY OF REBELLION
AND YOU?
“We are survival machines,”
but we are the only ones who can rebel.
The Selfish Gene
RICHARD DAWKINS
The Book That Changed Everything.
“This book is not just about biology. It is about the logic of life itself. It explains why we love, why we fight, and why we are the way we are.”
“The sort of book that makes you feel like a genius when you finish it.”— New York Times
Further Analysis
// EXPANDING THE GENE POOL
The Extended Phenotype
Richard Dawkins
The gene doesn't stop at the body. It extends into the world. The logical sequel to The Selfish Gene.
The Red Queen
Matt Ridley
Sex and the evolution of human nature. Why we are compelled to run just to stay in the same place.
The Moral Animal
Robert Wright
Why we are the way we are. The new science of evolutionary psychology and everyday life.