Dawkins and the Selfish Gene (Postmodern Encounters)

The English biologist Richard Dawkins is renowned for his theory of ‘the selfish gene’. But what does this theory really say, and why do so many people object to it? In this thought-provoking book, Ed Sexton explains Dawkins’ ideas and shows how they have been widely misunderstood. By separating the rhetoric of the man from the content of his theory, criticisms of the selfish gene can be uncovered and analysed. The myth of Dawkins’ genetic determinism is exposed, shattering the sterile dichotomy between Nature and Nurture that has hindered so much of our previous thinking about life and mind. This offers the possibility of a new synthesis between evolutionary theory and psychology – evolutionary psychology. Clearly and engagingly written, 'Dawkins and the Selfish Gene' will appeal to all those struggling to make sense of the recent avalanche of discoveries in genetics and developmental biology.