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The Gene's-Eye View of Evolution
'Arvid Ågren has undertaken the most meticulously thorough reading of the relevant literature that I have ever encountered, deploying an intelligent understanding to pull it into a coherent story. As if that wasn't enough, he gets it right.' (Richard Dawkins)
To many evolutionary biologists, the central challenge of their discipline is to explain adaptation, the appearance of design in the living world. With the theory of evolution by natural selection, Charles Darwin elegantly showed how a purely mechanistic process can achieve this striking feature of nature. Since then, the way many biologists have thought about evolution and natural selection is as a theory about individual organisms. Over a century later, a subtle but radical shift in perspective emerged with the gene's-eye view of evolution in which natural selection was conceptualized as a struggle between genes for replication and transmission to the next generation. This viewpoint culminated with the publication of The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (Oxford University Press, 1976) and is now commonly referred to as selfish gene thinking.
The gene's-eye view has subsequently played a central role in evolutionary biology, although it continues to attract controversy. The central aim of this accessible book is to show how the gene's-eye view differs from the traditional organismal account of evolution, trace its historical origins, clarify typical misunderstandings and, by using examples from contemporary experimental work, show why so many evolutionary biologists still consider it an indispensable heuristic. The book concludes by discussing how selfish gene thinking fits into ongoing debates in evolutionary biology, and what they tell us about the future of the gene's-eye view of evolution.
The Gene's-Eye View of Evolution is suitable for graduate-level students taking courses in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary genetics, as well as professional researchers in these fields. It will also appeal to a broader, interdisciplinary audience from the social sciences and humanities including philosophers and historians of science.
To many evolutionary biologists, the central challenge of their discipline is to explain adaptation, the appearance of design in the living world. With the theory of evolution by natural selection, Charles Darwin elegantly showed how a purely mechanistic process can achieve this striking feature of nature. Since then, the way many biologists have thought about evolution and natural selection is as a theory about individual organisms. Over a century later, a subtle but radical shift in perspective emerged with the gene's-eye view of evolution in which natural selection was conceptualized as a struggle between genes for replication and transmission to the next generation. This viewpoint culminated with the publication of The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (Oxford University Press, 1976) and is now commonly referred to as selfish gene thinking.
The gene's-eye view has subsequently played a central role in evolutionary biology, although it continues to attract controversy. The central aim of this accessible book is to show how the gene's-eye view differs from the traditional organismal account of evolution, trace its historical origins, clarify typical misunderstandings and, by using examples from contemporary experimental work, show why so many evolutionary biologists still consider it an indispensable heuristic. The book concludes by discussing how selfish gene thinking fits into ongoing debates in evolutionary biology, and what they tell us about the future of the gene's-eye view of evolution.
The Gene's-Eye View of Evolution is suitable for graduate-level students taking courses in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary genetics, as well as professional researchers in these fields. It will also appeal to a broader, interdisciplinary audience from the social sciences and humanities including philosophers and historians of science.
258 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 23, 2021
Essentially a literature review of the gene's-eye view popularised by Richard Dawkins. In its modest form, the view holds that taking the perspective of the gene (as opposed to the individual or group) is a useful way of understanding and predicting the effects of natural selection. The book was balanced in its assessment of the view, and is mostly historic in its approach. It would be helpful to a student trying to find out where to start on a particular debate relevant to the gene's-eye view. However, I was hoping there would be more exposition of scientific studies rather than 'Dawkins said, Gould said' scattered with references and further reading. Would have given three stars if it was not for the number of typos in the book (sometime two on a single page) which is really disappointing for an OUP book.
July 4, 2022
Very nice summary on the history of different perspectives on the gene's-eye view of evolution. Would recommend to any upcoming evolutionary biologists.
December 4, 2022
Un buen libro para profundizar en el acalorado debate académico y la literatura que rodea y ha rodeado a la evolución desde el punto de vista del gen (también puede denominarse «pensamiento del gen egoísta», «evolución centrada en el gen» o «la visión del gen»). El punto de vista del gen representa un cambio de perspectiva sutil pero radical, y sigue siendo válido e importante. A pesar de ello, ha sido malentendido y mal interpretado durante décadas. Pero Arvid Ågren está aquí para aclarar las cosas. Como dice el autor, «la historia del punto de vista del gen aborda muchas cuestiones abstractas, pero también tiene innumerables implicaciones empíricas. Golpea justo en el corazón de la cuestión de lo que es la evolución y de cómo vamos a estudiarla».
Aunque el autor dice que no es un libro sobre historia, también es un libro que se centra en la historia que rodea a esta forma de pensar, el punto de vista del gen. Personalmente, no considero que el libro sea interesante para todo el mundo, sino para el lector que ya conoce y estudia o está interesado en el tema, como es mi caso. Aunque sí lo considero importante. Arvid Ågren aborda desde los debates del adaptacionismo; el impacto y la importancia de la teología natural y de William Paley y su obra Teología natural en el pensamiento evolucionista; la formación de la síntesis moderna y sus principales contribuyentes; la formación, el debate y la literatura del punto de vista del gen, especialmente el impacto de Richard Dawkins y George C. Williams y sus libros El gen egoísta y El fenotipo extendido (Dawkins) y Adaptation and Natural Selection (Williams); hasta la evidencia, la aplicación moderna y los ejemplos empíricos de este punto de vista de los «genes egoístas». Puede resultar un poco pesado a veces debido a que se centra principalmente en los debates históricos de los distintos académicos. Está escrito de forma neutral —a pesar de ser un libro sobre la validez e importancia de esta forma de pensar—, tiene una estructura académica y un tono muy respetuoso. El estudiante de biología evolutiva lo apreciará mucho.
El punto de vista del gen es un tema que sigue siendo válido e importante cuando se quiere conocer un modo de funcionamiento de la evolución. Su acalorado debate desde poco después de la mitad del siglo XX fue su punto álgido y de mayor impacto en la academia. Aunque ha sido una forma de pensar importante y está incrustada en el pensamiento de la biología, con el paso de los años ha perdido fuerza e incluso ha suscitado dudas sobre su eficacia para tratar la evolución. Pero Arvid Ågren ha venido a salvar y mantener viva esta visión con este libro, mostrándonos que sigue siendo tan válida como en su momento de auge, y que lo seguirá siendo en los próximos años... y mientras los genes impulsen la evolución. «Ågren ha proporcionado tanto una visión general de una importante idea científica como un examen profundamente filosófico de la evolución y de la naturaleza de la vida. Demuestra que tanto los científicos como los legos interesados se basan en gran medida en las palabras de Richard Dawkins y en las de Charles Darwin, George C. Williams, W. D. Hamilton y otros muchos pensadores cuyo trabajo analiza. Ahora podemos añadir a esa lista de pensadores el nombre de J. Arvid Ågren»*.
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* Daniel James Sharp, Areo, 28 de febrero de 2022.
Aunque el autor dice que no es un libro sobre historia, también es un libro que se centra en la historia que rodea a esta forma de pensar, el punto de vista del gen. Personalmente, no considero que el libro sea interesante para todo el mundo, sino para el lector que ya conoce y estudia o está interesado en el tema, como es mi caso. Aunque sí lo considero importante. Arvid Ågren aborda desde los debates del adaptacionismo; el impacto y la importancia de la teología natural y de William Paley y su obra Teología natural en el pensamiento evolucionista; la formación de la síntesis moderna y sus principales contribuyentes; la formación, el debate y la literatura del punto de vista del gen, especialmente el impacto de Richard Dawkins y George C. Williams y sus libros El gen egoísta y El fenotipo extendido (Dawkins) y Adaptation and Natural Selection (Williams); hasta la evidencia, la aplicación moderna y los ejemplos empíricos de este punto de vista de los «genes egoístas». Puede resultar un poco pesado a veces debido a que se centra principalmente en los debates históricos de los distintos académicos. Está escrito de forma neutral —a pesar de ser un libro sobre la validez e importancia de esta forma de pensar—, tiene una estructura académica y un tono muy respetuoso. El estudiante de biología evolutiva lo apreciará mucho.
El punto de vista del gen es un tema que sigue siendo válido e importante cuando se quiere conocer un modo de funcionamiento de la evolución. Su acalorado debate desde poco después de la mitad del siglo XX fue su punto álgido y de mayor impacto en la academia. Aunque ha sido una forma de pensar importante y está incrustada en el pensamiento de la biología, con el paso de los años ha perdido fuerza e incluso ha suscitado dudas sobre su eficacia para tratar la evolución. Pero Arvid Ågren ha venido a salvar y mantener viva esta visión con este libro, mostrándonos que sigue siendo tan válida como en su momento de auge, y que lo seguirá siendo en los próximos años... y mientras los genes impulsen la evolución. «Ågren ha proporcionado tanto una visión general de una importante idea científica como un examen profundamente filosófico de la evolución y de la naturaleza de la vida. Demuestra que tanto los científicos como los legos interesados se basan en gran medida en las palabras de Richard Dawkins y en las de Charles Darwin, George C. Williams, W. D. Hamilton y otros muchos pensadores cuyo trabajo analiza. Ahora podemos añadir a esa lista de pensadores el nombre de J. Arvid Ågren»*.
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* Daniel James Sharp, Areo, 28 de febrero de 2022.
April 17, 2023
Sorry to start with a spoiler, this book does real justice to its title and attempts to set a better light on a topic that has seen so much controversy, historically and to the present day. The author does an exceptional job of setting up the chapters in a cohesive and easy to read manner (aiming to cover a lot of background, which really helps). It is by no means written for researchers/specialists in the field, BUT aimed to reach everyone, and can be read by anyone interested in the topic that is fundamental to all life (evolution). WIll make a good book for departmental recommendations for students to get a grip of the history of the gene-centric versus individual-centric arguments in Evolutionary BIology. It also brings into account the nuance that is required, read till the end, which helps put things into a perspective and leaves it to the reader to make up their mind, but not loose the big picture of why it is important to know this.
February 23, 2024
Great overview of the debates surrounding the gene's eye view of evolution (mainly attributed to George C. Williams and Richard Dawkins). Not all discussions could be explored in great detail, but numerous sources for further reading are provided. The mathematical sections were difficult to follow, but do not distract much from the main story. Highly recommended for anyone interested in evolutionary theory.
February 12, 2023
Comprehensive literature review, a bit murky/dull in its prose (which makes it difficult to follow at times).
July 27, 2022
Could use a professional coauthor for stylistic reasons. But otherwise provides an authoritative history of the field of evolutionary theory, including recent potentially paradigm-shifting contributions critical of Richard Dawkins's genes-eye view prospective.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews