Read Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene

November 28, 2007   

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Having read and enjoyed Richard Dawkins The God Delusion, I decided to check out the book that made him famous. It’s interesting to see that many of the themes from The God Delusion are already addressed (if only in passing) such as the illusion of design – and this 30 years before Intelligent Design became “relevant”.

His rethinking of Darwinism is enlightening. I loved his debunking that animals act “for the good of the species”. I also loved his breaking down of the basic reproductive unit to the meme. As a conscious entity, it’s hard to accept that we are arguably puppets serving the reproductive desires of our memes, and that this very consciousness is just another trait to increase this reproductive potential, but the arguments and evidence are compelling.

You can buy the book at:
http://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Anniversary-Introduction/dp/0199291152/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196284477&sr=8-1

  • I find it fascinating that (some of) America is embracing Dawkins. Not because of what he talks about, but I am convinced that his very, very Englishness is a part of his popularity. (I’m English BTW)

    Despite a quite happy day to day relationship between the UK and the USA, there is still very much an underlying archetype of English ‘evilness’. Probably well deserved, but way before our time to be relevant.

    Almost in a pantomime sense. British actors survive almost entirely by playing the bad guys in US films 🙂

    There are plenty of Americans who share the views of Dawkins and have the background to make his arguments credibly, but I think those people who want to promote his message decided it was safer to pick a Limey as their spokesman.

    Listen to the crazy Englishman speak, isn’t he eccentric ! (But maybe he has a point, whispered in the background 🙂

    I think it’s very healthy for the US (and everywhere) to have his opposing viewpoint out there. Interestingly Dawkins has a very low profile over here, but then religion in general is far less of an issue and rarely brought into politics in anything but a superficial way.

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