Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters) [Paperback]

Ed Sexton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Postmodern Encounters | Publication Date: February 1997

Richard Dawkins made famous the theory of the 'selfish gene' - inciting one of the most controversial debates in science today. His views on evolution and genetics widely misunderstood, Dawkins has been the target for a barrage of spurious accusations. Yet he has held steadfastly to the belief in the universal objectivity of science, an unfashionable contemporary heir to the Enlightenment ideal.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ed Sexton holds degrees in Biology and Philosophy of Science, and specialised in the philosophy of biological sciences. He is currently a freelance writer and journalist.

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Introduction

'... man’s way of life is largely determined by culture rather than by genes.'

This is perhaps not a quotation we would normally associate with Richard Dawkins. It does, however, exemplify two points which I hope to make in this book. I hope to show that much of Dawkins’ ‘selfish gene’ theory has been misinterpreted, and that therefore much of the criticism he has received is misdirected. A few well-chosen quotations can be highly misleading and can bury the meaning of any complex theory, which brings me to the second point: many (but by no means all) of Dawkins’ critics focus on his rhetoric, rather than the theory he describes.

Of course, the rhetoric of ‘The Selfish Gene’ is all too easy to criticise. Dawkins’ metaphorical and often aggressive use of language can alienate readers rather than persuade them. Certain words are downright confusing, such as ‘selfish’ in the title, which the author constantly reminds us he is using in a ‘special’ way. Putting aside our common understanding of these words and replacing them with Dawkinspeak is not helped by the occasional outbursts and anti-religious swipes which litter the book, a point emphasised by Merryl Wyn Davies:

‘Dawkins may maintain he believes that genes make us but do not compel us, yet his “giddying updraughts of rhetoric” are repeatedly and passionately defended by their author; they persuasively convey meaning.’

This is not to say that there aren’t real objections to selfish gene theory. Philosophers and scientists alike have criticised Dawkins for ignoring various aspects of evolution, for advocating a form of genetic determinism, for reducing all social behaviour to the behaviour of genes, and so on. Perhaps the most popular criticism is that selfish gene theory somehow undermines religion and morality. The ‘somehow’ in that sentence will no doubt tell readers that I think this last objection is unfounded. Theories about facts, while undoubtedly informing moral and social debate, cannot serve as a basis for morality. Or, more succinctly, ‘you can’t get an ought from an is’.

There is a problem, of course, if religion claims something factual which contradicts a scientific theory. Thus, creationists seem to be locked into an endless battle with evolutionists, a topic reviewed in Merryl Wyn Davies’ ‘Darwin and Fundamentalism’, another volume in this series. ‘Dawkins and The Selfish Gene’ is not about the arguments for and against evolutionary theory in general. Many evolutionary biologists disagree with selfish gene theory, and those who reject evolutionary theory itself inevitably reject Dawkins’ work. Theirs is an argument concerning the facts of life’s history – Dawkins’ theory concerns the mechanisms behind those facts, if the basic tenets of evolution are true.

You may feel that the first page of ‘The Selfish Gene’ suggests otherwise. Consider the following rhetoric:

‘We no longer have to resort to superstition when faced with the deep problems: Is there a meaning to life? What are we for? What is man?’

Dawkins’ atheism is waved proudly here and elsewhere, but it would be wrong to say that selfish gene theory is in itself opposed to all religious points of view. It may tell us what we are for in the sense of what evolution has constructed us to do, but it certainly doesn’t tell us how to live our lives as conscious human beings.

When it was first published in 1976, ‘The Selfish Gene’ was a straightforward science book. It was based on the principles of neo-Darwinism, which reconciled the relatively new field of genetics with Darwin’s insights into evolution by natural selection. Darwin’s theory had shown how organisms could evolve if the hereditary factors passed down by each generation were open to mutation. Some of these mutations would be advantageous, in the sense that they would increase the organism’s chances of surviving and passing on the mutations (for example, faster running ability). Many would be extremely disadvantageous (for example, one leg). Thus, in a sense, nature would select those individuals most able to survive, who would pass on the mutated hereditary factors (with some new mutations), and so on – evolution by natural selection. Darwin had little idea what these hereditary factors were, or how they could mutate and be passed down the generations. Today we know them by the all too familiar word ‘gene’.

Dawkins took this new way of thinking about evolution and applied it to one specific area. It was not to be a grand new theory. Instead,

‘... it will explore the consequences of the evolution theory for a particular issue. My purpose is to examine the biology of selfishness and altruism.’

On the way, however, Dawkins developed a new ‘gene-centred’ way of looking at evolution and biology which laid bare the fallacy in ‘good of the species’ or even ‘good of the individual’ arguments. If there was good to be had, it was by the gene. Dawkins’ theory was not merely constrained to genes – it could be applied to any system of replicating entities which undergo mutation and selection. Artificial Life research has felt its implications, and the last chapter of ‘The Selfish Gene’ even suggests that thoughts could be evolving – the infamous ‘memes’.

Meanwhile, as the book’s popularity increased, so did the controversy. Religious and philosophical objections started to appear, fuelled by the media, which only helped to raise Dawkins’ fame. For some, he was – and remains – a devoted and passionate scientist at the forefront of evolutionary theory; for others, he is still the embodiment of the threat that science poses to social values.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Totem Books (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840462388
• ISBN-13: 978-1840462388
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,502,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise Review with Historical Perspective, February 14, 2006

By 

David Wallace Croft (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters) (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading Dawkins and the Selfish Gene by Ed Sexton (2001). It provides a concise summary of the selfish gene theory and the related debates. At just 80 pages, it is perfect for those who have already read The Selfish Gene some time ago and are looking for a quick review with a bit of historical perspective.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for complete novices, November 18, 2008

By 

L. Bollinger "bollinl" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters) (Paperback)

First, I must say I was disappointed in how *thin* the book is--big print, not many pages. If you are really a newbie in terms of thinking about evolution and genetics, this book *might* be a useful introduction. For me, I'd read most of the materials he cited and I was hoping for something that would suggest more how selfish gene thinking connects to postmodern theory. This book is not what I was looking for. It works nicely as a sort of "cheat sheet" if you want a quick introduction or a quick reminder that doesn't badly oversimplify the ideas. But if you've been thinking about the issues, I'm not sure this book will advance your thinking much.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overview, September 25, 2001

By 

Ben Mack (Nacirema) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters) (Paperback)

Good overview of memetics and an introduction to the debate over the viability of memetics as a science.