[PatrickHenry]

Gotta excerpt articles from this source.

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 380 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[Screamname]

Richard Dawkins, wasn`t he the host of Family Feud? It`s time to play the feuuuuud! Now give me a kiss!

[D-fendr]

Dawkins is great. When he sticks to subjects he knows something about.

[Coyoteman]

===> Lurking marker <===

[Physicist]

I'm chagrined to admit that I haven't yet read The Selfish Gene, but I've read The Blind Watchmaker and Climbing Mount Improbable, and they were superb.

[stands2reason]

I remember hearing about this theory awhile back. Didn't know it was Dawkins.


What's your take?

[R.W.Ratikal]

The tiny circulation figures for the NYT shows how few people ever read the paper. 99 percent of each issue is about the 5 boroughs of New York City of interest only to the locals.

It is questionable whether the NYT has any influence any more. It has been marginalized ever since 1958 when it helped Castro take over Cuba.

To prosecute the NYT would be to give it publicity it does not deserve.

The New York Times? Who dat be?

[LiteKeeper]

The gene's behavior is most easily understood by assuming its interest is to get itself replicated as much as possible

Implies sentience [a capacity for basic consciousness]. Where does that come from? This is the foundational weakness of evolution...totally illogical!

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Sometimes I think I dislike Dawkins for his views on religion.

Sometimes I think it's just jealousy that he's banging Lalla Ward.

[betty boop]

Hamilton's chief insight was the solution of a problem that Darwin himself had spotted as potentially fatal for his theory, that of altruistic individuals who sacrifice their lives for the good of the colony, hive or kin. How can a genetic basis for altruism ever evolve, given that an altruist's genes must surely become less common as he diverts resources from helping his own progeny survive to fostering others' survival?

Hamilton showed that it all makes sense when one considers that an individual is not the only carrier of his genes. The very same genes, or at least half of them, are carried by each of an individual's siblings, with lesser fractions shared by uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces. For an altruist to help these relatives survive and propagate their genes is almost as good as propagating his own genes.

Sounds plausible on first hearing, Patrick. But on second hearing....

Please 'splain to me how the "selfish gene" benefits from altrustic acts performed on behalf of individuals who are not part of one's kinship group. Apparently, this is not a concern for animals (e.g., hive and swarm behavior, etc.) But in the human realm, altrustic acts may be extended to total strangers.

How does Hamilton's insight apply to that situation?

Thanks for the post, PH!