MENTAL MODEL · M1340

The Selfish Gene

TechnicalHigh supportBiology

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

The Selfish Gene is a book by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, published in 1976, which primarily discusses the genetic principles of evolution, building upon the theories in George C. Williams's book Adaptation and Natural Selection. Dawkins uses the metaphor of the 'selfish gene' to express a gene-centric view of evolution, which differs from species- or organism-centric views and can explain various altruistic behaviors among organisms. The closer the genetic relationship between two organisms, the more likely they are to behave selflessly. A species evolves to enhance its inclusive fitness—passing on as many copies of its genes to the population as a whole (rather than to individual organisms). Thus, the entire population evolves toward an evolutionarily stable strategy. The book also coins the term 'meme' to represent the basic unit of cultural evolution in human society, suggesting that the 'selfish' replication mechanism also applies to human culture.

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The book proposes that the unit of selection in evolution is the gene, not the individual or species: genes replicate themselves by creating 'survival machines' (individuals), which have finite lifespans while genes are relatively immortal. The 'selfishness' of genes refers to their sole concern with the propagation of their own copies; altruistic behaviors (such as parental investment, reciprocity) can be explained at the level of kin selection (Hamilton's rule rB>C) as benefiting shared genes.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

When encountering seemingly altruistic behavior, first ask 'whose genes benefit?' 2. Use the relatedness coefficient r and compare benefits B and costs C (Hamilton's rule). 3. Identify the level of 'replicator'—genes, memes, and cultural units each have their own replication logic. 4. Be cautious about directly inferring individual morality from the 'selfishness' at the gene level. 5. Use this perspective to examine the spread of 'cultural genes' within organizations.

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zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%87%AA%E7%A7%81%E7%9A%84%E5%9F%BA%E5%9B%A0ZH · Explicit
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