The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins revolutionizes evolutionary theory with the gene-centered view, arguing that genes are "selfish" entities using organisms as vehicles to ensure their own replication and survival. The book explains apparent altruism in nature—like bees sacrificing themselves to protect the hive—through inclusive fitness, demonstrating that organisms maximize copies of their genes passed on globally. Dawkins also introduces "memes" as cultural equivalents of genes, suggesting that ideas replicate and evolve through human culture similarly to biological genes.

12 sections · 45 lessons

Course outline

Gene-Centered View

  1. Genes Drive Evolution
  2. Selfish Gene Explained
  3. Replicators
  4. Molecules to Life
  5. Gene-Centered View

Genes and Bodies

  1. Gene Immortality
  2. Genes in Reproduction
  3. Bodies as Vehicles
  4. Features via Genes
  5. Genes and Bodies

Natural Selection Dynamics

  1. Gene Competition
  2. Gene Success Strategies
  3. Genes and Behavior
  4. Instinct and Learning
  5. Natural Selection Dynamics

Altruism and Kinship

  1. Altruism Paradox
  2. Altruism and Kin
  3. Hamilton's Rule
  4. Hamilton's Rule Applied
  5. Altruism and Kinship

Parental Investment

  1. Parental Investment Costs
  2. Strategic Abandonment
  3. Parent-Offspring Conflict
  4. Conflict in Nature
  5. Parental Investment

Sexual Conflict

  1. Sex-Specific Strategies
  2. Choice & Competition
  3. Sexual Conflict

Reciprocity and Cooperation

  1. Reciprocal Cooperation
  2. Punishing Cheaters
  3. Prisoner's Dilemma
  4. Iterated Games
  5. Reciprocity and Cooperation

Game Theory Evolution

  1. ESS Stability
  2. Mixed Strategies
  3. Hawk-Dove Game
  4. Calculating ESS
  5. Game Theory Evolution

Cooperation Mechanisms

  1. Cooperation Pathways
  2. Recognition & Reputation
  3. Retaliator Strategy
  4. Retaliator Dominance
  5. Cooperation Mechanisms

Extended Phenotypes

  1. Extended Phenotype
  2. Parasite Manipulation
  3. Extended Phenotypes

Cultural Evolution

  1. Cultural Replicators
  2. Evolution Speed
  3. Meme Success
  4. Harmful Meme Spread
  5. Gene vs. Meme
  6. Gene-Meme Conflict
  7. Cultural Evolution

Human Freedom

  1. Overriding Programming
  2. Transcending Imperatives
  3. Teaching Altruism
  4. Human Freedom

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