In this blog post, we will look at the limitations of the incomplete theory of the selfish gene and explore the possibilities and directions for its supplementation.
Research on the theory of evolution is being conducted all over the world, and there are still many areas that remain unexplained. As a result, opinions on the theory of evolution are divided. The selfish gene theory is one of these various opinions, and it is famous for the book The Selfish Gene, which was written by Richard Dawkins. This book was read by so many people that it was praised for being a milestone in popular science books, and the selfish gene theory has received a lot of criticism for that. However, it is not easy to deny the entire selfish gene theory. Criticisms of the selfish gene theory that are commonly known are often incorrect. Also, when compared to other theories, the selfish gene theory is undoubtedly a very reasonable theory. Therefore, in this article, I would like to argue that it is worth conducting research on evolutionary theory based on the selfish gene theory. However, the selfish gene theory is chosen because it is relatively reasonable, not because it is a perfect theory. Therefore, in this article, I would like to argue that the selfish gene theory is relatively reasonable but still incomplete, and that it is worth the challenge to complement it and complete the theory of evolution.
First, before presenting the reasons why the selfish gene theory is more reasonable than other theories, it is necessary to address the erroneous criticisms of the selfish gene theory. The counterargument that “don’t certain animals help each other live?” does not hurt the selfish gene theory. The word “selfish” chosen by Clinton Richard Dawkins is not directly related to the nature of an individual. Evolution means that the frequency of certain genes in the gene pool changes. In general, the proportion of genes that are easier to be replicated and transmitted to the next generation increases, and the expression “selfish” is simply a means to explain this.
In addition, the selfish gene theory has little to do with determinism. The concept of “genes are selfish,” which was summarized by Clinton Richard Dawkins, refers to the category of selfishness and the direction of evolution. In the selfish gene theory, the basic unit of evolution is genes, and it is argued that changes in the gene pool proceed in a direction that is favorable for each gene to replicate itself. The important point to note here is that just because we have given directions, it does not mean that we have set specific goals for the changes in the gene pool or all the behaviors of the animals. For example, when we observe a rocket traveling through space, we can express the direction of the rocket, but we cannot know where the rocket is going or whether it has a destination.
Second, since the selfish gene theory is more reasonable than other theories, further research on the theory of evolution should be conducted based on the selfish gene theory. What does it mean to say that a theory is “relatively reasonable”? We can think about this by borrowing the ideas of Karl Popper. A theory is any logical way of thinking to explain a phenomenon that is observed. Even the same event that occurs in the same situation can be presented in different ways depending on the approach. For example, if the result of 4 is derived when there are two numbers 2, we can infer that addition was performed, or we can infer that multiplication was performed. However, if an additional observation is made of the phenomenon in which 6 is created using 2 and 3, we will come to the conclusion that the multiplication theory is more reasonable than the addition theory. In this way, the process of choosing a more rational theory is to adopt a theory that can explain all events. Therefore, if it is shown that the selfish gene theory can explain the most extensive range of animal behavior, it can be proven that the selfish gene theory is more rational than other theories.
To summarize the selfish gene theory briefly, the unit that explains life phenomena is the gene, and evolution is the process by which genes move in a direction that is advantageous for their own preservation. From this statement, we can understand that different theories can be naturally organized based on the basic unit that explains them and the direction of evolution. For example, the theory of Win-Edwards on population regulation can be explained by altruistic behavior at the population level. Of course, “altruistic” here means that the gene pool changes in a way that is beneficial to the survival of the entire population rather than to the survival of individual genes. The following is a comparison of the selfish gene theory with other theories of different categories and orientations.
A1: The number of animals is regulated through territory and ranking systems. A2: Birds tend to lay a certain number of eggs at a time. A3: Some birds live in flocks and seem to estimate the density of their population. B1: Baby birds use false cries to get food from their parents. B2: Mother birds ignore their weak babies to reduce their own work.
First, a comparison of altruistic behavior at the group level and selfish gene theory. The selfish gene theory explains that phenomena such as A1, A2, and A3 can be interpreted as both altruistic behavior at the group level and selfish gene theory. However, it is awkward to explain B1 as altruistic behavior at the group level. If the origin of animal behavior is the prosperity of the group, the mother bird would have fed the chicks without the need for false crying. In other words, phenomena that cannot be explained by group-level altruistic behavior can be explained by selfish gene theory.
Next, we will compare individual-level selfish behavior and selfish gene theory. Here, “individual-level selfish behavior” refers to the tendency of animals to behave in a way that increases their survival rate at the individual level, which is different from selfish gene theory. These two theories can also explain B1 and B2, according to selfish gene theory. However, individual-level selfish behavior cannot explain A3. A3 means that individuals consciously control the number of individuals in a group, and it is unnatural to explain this behavior with individual-level selfish behavior. As such, we can see that while other theories provide explanations limited to specific fields, the selfish gene theory can explain a wide range of phenomena with a single principle. Therefore, the selfish gene theory is a fairly reasonable theory.
Third, the selfish gene theory needs to be supplemented in various ways. Just because the selfish gene theory is relatively reasonable does not mean that it is a completely correct theory. The current selfish gene theory alone cannot explain all behavioral patterns. A typical example is adoption. In the case of humans and some monkeys, parents raise their children through adoption, and this behavior is not directly related to the transmission and preservation of their own genes. Another example is pets. The act of keeping pets does not help to pass on one’s genes to the next generation.
There are two possible explanations for this. The first is that evolution is still in progress. Since the gene pool is still in a transitional period of change, behaviors that are considered inefficient in the theory of the selfish gene have not been eliminated. For example, in the case of adoption, Clinton Richard Dawkins referred to this as a malfunction in the theory of the selfish gene. The second interpretation is that the selfish gene theory is, in a sense, still unfinished. Consider Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity. In everyday situations, Isaac Newton’s laws of motion seem to work well. But when situations arise in which movement occurs at speeds close to the speed of light, Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity is needed. In other words, special circumstances require a correction to Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. This example allows us to distinguish between the range to which the selfish gene theory applies and the range that requires correction.
So how can we find this standard? Going back to the example mentioned earlier, when Isaac Newton’s laws of motion could explain all situations, there was a limit to the speed that people could observe. In other words, since the movement close to the speed of light was not considered, a correction was needed for that situation. Therefore, we can find the standard by observing what the selfish gene theory has not considered. Combined with the characteristics of counterexamples such as adoption and pets, it can be seen that the selfish gene theory does not sufficiently take into account the learning that individuals gain in society. In other words, a corrected selfish gene theory should be applied to groups with a certain level of sociality and learning ability.
Evolutionary theory has yet to provide a complete explanation of life, so further research is needed. I think the selfish gene theory is a good foundation for further research. This article began by refuting the false criticisms of the selfish gene theory and explaining that denying this theory is not easy. It also proved that the selfish gene theory is relatively more reasonable than other theories based on the examples presented in the book The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. Therefore, he argued that it is better to conduct research on evolutionary theory based on the selfish gene theory. However, this theory is not completely correct just because it is relatively reasonable. This is because there are still behaviors that are difficult to explain using the selfish gene theory. To solve these problems, we need to recognize that evolution is still in progress and that the selfish gene theory is incomplete. In particular, if the influence of society on the survival and transmission of genetic information in individuals and gene communities is applied to the selfish gene theory, it is expected that more behavioral patterns can be interpreted with this corrected theory.
