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
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.