“Group selection” is an idea in evolutionary biology that has been provoking controversy recently. Wikipedia summarises group selection as “the idea that alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups, regardless of the alleles’ effect on the fitness of individuals within that group”. While a few big-names, like E.O.Wilson, now support group selection, it’s not making much headway amongst biologists, psychologists or social scientists. In this carefully argued essay, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker explains why he’s not at all impressed by the group selectionists. It’s a fairly long piece but interesting and readily intelligible without specialist knowledge…

“I am often asked whether I agree with the new group selectionists, and the questioners are always surprised when I say I do not. After all, group selection sounds like a reasonable extension of evolutionary theory and a plausible explanation of the social nature of humans. Also, the group selectionists tend to declare victory, and write as if their theory has already superseded a narrow, reductionist dogma that selection acts only at the level of genes. In this essay, I’ll explain why I think that this reasonableness is an illusion. The more carefully you think about group selection, the less sense it makes, and the more poorly it fits the facts of human psychology and history.”

Full article: http://edge.org/conversation/the-false-allure-of-group-selection

Thanks for the link Mr Car, I haven’t been to The Edge (or even close to it) for ages.

At the moment I disagree with his stated conclusions; I think “Group Selection” vs. “Gene Selection” is a false dichotomy.

But I should probably read it in full before commenting, which may take some time.

he who breeds fastest and most wins in human evolution

india added 180 million to its population in ten years

wookiemeister said:

he who breeds fastest and most wins in human evolution

india added 180 million to its population in ten years

yeah but what caste were they?

Skeptic Pete said:

wookiemeister said:

he who breeds fastest and most wins in human evolution

india added 180 million to its population in ten years

yeah but what caste were they?

There is a program on tonight about racism and ozzies by Hildebrand so I can already guess which direction it is going to go. A lot of ironing from a country with untouchables.

Skunkworks said:

There is a program on tonight about racism and ozzies by Hildebrand so I can already guess which direction it is going to go. A lot of ironing from a country with untouchables.

Thanks for the reminder

Another recent article dissing group selection, by Jerry Coyne:

The demise of group selection