Michael holds a BA in Biology with a minor in Philosophy. He likes to spend his free time hiking and defending science, though not usually at the same time. Contrary to popular (but not scientific) belief, the positive and appropriate perception of science is undermined by religion, alternative medicine, the U.S. education system, and most science journalists.
 | Michael on Shaun King, Thomas Jefferson,… |
| Michael on Andreas Moritz is a clever sna… |
 | jo on Andreas Moritz is a clever sna… |
| Michael on Thought of the day |
 | vjack on Thought of the day |
| Michael on Ol’ scummy Andreas … |
 | dreaminginamerica on Ol’ scummy Andreas … |
 | Nick Roberts on Don’t do business with B… |
 | Hank Hill on Should I face my plates in or… |
 | Stephen Moreton on Science moves on bodies of… |
An animal’s behaviour tends to maximize the survival of the genes ‘for’ that behaviour, whether or not those genes happen to be in the body of the particular animal performing it.
~Richard Dawkins, The Extended Phenotype
Filed under: Evolution | Tagged: Richard Dawkins, The Extended Phenotype |
How does this apply to rope swings?
It applies to beavers.
A small percentage of people are capable of understanding this.
Bahahaha.
The book is much less accessible than The Selfish Gene or any of Dawkins’ other books because it was designed for those within the field, but a few undergraduate courses and some independent background will get anyone up to speed for the majority of what he has to say, including his central theorem above.