REVOLUTIONS IN SCIENCE
Dawkins vs. Gould Survival of the Fittest
Kim Sterelny
Series editor: Jon Turney
ICON
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TOTEM
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Published in the UK in 200 I by Icon Books Ltd., Grange Road,
in the USA in 2001
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©
2001 Kim StereIny
The author has asserted his moral rights. Series editor: Jon Tumey Originating editor: Simon Flynn No part of this book may
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Contents
Acknowledgements and Dedication
iv
Part I: Battle Joined
1
Chapter 1: A Clash of Perspectives
3
Part ll: Dawkins' World
15
Chapter 2: Genes and Gene Lineages Chapter 3: Gene Selection in a World of Organisms Chapter 4: Extended Phenotypes and Outlaws Chapter 5: Selfishness and Selection Chapter 6: Selection and Adaptation
17 25 32 42 54
Part llI: The View from Ha"ard
63
Chapter 7: Local Process, Global Change? Chapter 8: Punctuated Equilibrium Chapter 9: Mass Extinction Chapter 10: Life in the Cambrian Chapter 11: The Evolutionary Escalator
65 74 81 89 110
Part IV: The State of Play
121
Chapter 12:A Candle in the Dark? Chapter 13: Stumps Summary
123 131
Suggested Reading
141
Glossary
152
Appendix: Geological Time Scale
156
Acknowledgements Thanks to Mike Ridge, Matteo Mameli, Darryl Jones, Jochen Brocks, Dan Dennett and Jon Turney for their thoughts on a draft of this book. Thanks also to the Philosophy Program, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University and the Department of Philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington, whose support made it possible for me to write it.
Dedication For Peter: Friend and colleague
Part I Battle Joined
1
A Clash of Perspectives
Science in general, and biology in particular, has seen its fair share of punch-ups. In the 1930s and 1940s, Britain's two greatest biologists, J.B.S. Haldane and R.A. Fisher, feuded so vigorously that their students (John Maynard Smith tells me) were ha