Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gen Quotes

A collection of quotes by Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gen.

Richard Dawkins is an eminent British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and author, known for his groundbreaking work on the theory of evolution. Born on March 26, 1941, in Nairobi, Kenya, Dawkins gained widespread recognition for his influential book "The Selfish Gene" published in 1976. This seminal work introduced the concept of genes as the driving force behind evolution, revolutionizing our understanding of natural selection. Dawkins' captivating writing style and ability to popularize complex scientific ideas have made him a prominent figure in the field of evolutionary biology. His contributions have sparked extensive debates and discussions, making him a leading voice in the study of genetics and evolution.

The argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes. Like successful Chicago gangsters, our genes have survived, in some cases for millions of years, in a highly competitive world. This entitles us to expect certain qualities in our genes. I shall argue that a predominant quality to be expected in a successful gene is ruthless selfishness. This gene selfishness will usually give rise to selfishness in individual behavior. However, as we shall see, there are special circumstances in which a gene can achieve its own selfish goals best by fostering a limited form of altruism at the level of individual animals. 'Special' and 'limited' are important words in the last sentence. Much as we might wish to believe otherwise, universal love and the welfare of the species as a whole are concepts that simply do not make evolutionary sense.

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gen

Selfishness