Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - The eye-openers reading list

CSflim · 01-22-2005, 05:01 PM

The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins
What is DNA? Easy!...we all know that DNA is the mechanism by which we, and other living creatures, reproduce. Right? Wrong! Utterly wrong. WE are the mechanism by which DNA reproduces itself. It is from this viewpoint that we should look at nature when we endeavour to understand her secrets. Richard Dawkins, perhaps the greatest populariser of evolutionary biology, elaborates on this idea in his first and most critically acclaimed book.
When we examine a creature in nature we may find altruism towards its fellows. Is this for 'the good of the species'? Richard Dawkins demolishes this argument and in its place shows how selfish gene theory alone can explain this, and so many other of the novel things one finds in nature, from sexual politics to brotherly love.
(Make certain you get the second edition. The additions are very worthwhile).
This certainly is a book which counts as an eye-opener.

EDIT: And I should point out, as it is something that has been misrepresented on numerous occasions, that no, selfish genes are not genes for selfishness.

01-22-2005, 05:01 PM	#24 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins What is DNA? Easy!...we all know that DNA is the mechanism by which we, and other living creatures, reproduce. Right? Wrong! Utterly wrong. WE are the mechanism by which DNA reproduces itself. It is from this viewpoint that we should look at nature when we endeavour to understand her secrets. Richard Dawkins, perhaps the greatest populariser of evolutionary biology, elaborates on this idea in his first and most critically acclaimed book. When we examine a creature in nature we may find altruism towards its fellows. Is this for 'the good of the species'? Richard Dawkins demolishes this argument and in its place shows how selfish gene theory alone can explain this, and so many other of the novel things one finds in nature, from sexual politics to brotherly love. (Make certain you get the second edition. The additions are very worthwhile). This certainly is a book which counts as an eye-opener. EDIT: And I should point out, as it is something that has been misrepresented on numerous occasions, that no, selfish genes are not genes for selfishness. __________________ Last edited by CSflim; 01-22-2005 at 05:04 PM..