The Selfish Gene
The gene-centered view of evolution that reframed how we understand natural selection
"We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes."
— Richard Dawkins
My Review
The gene-centered view of evolution is the foundation of evolutionary thinking. Dawkins' reframing - that organisms are vehicles for gene replication - explains so much about why behaviors that seem irrational for the organism make sense at the gene level. This shift in perspective is essential for understanding selection pressure.
Why It Matters
Dawkins' reframing fundamentally changed how we understand evolution. For business, it clarifies that 'fitness' isn't about what's good for the organization - it's about what gets replicated. This explains why behaviors that seem irrational for companies persist: they're rational for the 'genes' (practices, structures) being selected.
Key Ideas
- Genes, not organisms, are the fundamental unit of selection
- Organisms are 'survival machines' built by genes to propagate themselves
- Altruism can evolve when it benefits copies of genes in relatives
- Memes are cultural replicators analogous to genes
How It Connects to This Framework
Book 1 (Foundations) chapter on Natural Selection and Book 6 (Adaptation & Evolution) draw on Dawkins' gene-centered perspective. The concept of selection pressure on organizational 'genes' (practices, culture, structure) is directly informed by this work.
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