Re: Cui bono, Chuck?

From: chuck (cpalson@mediaone.net)
Date: Thu May 25 2000 - 16:28:32 BST

  • Next message: Richard Brodie: "RE: Cui bono, Chuck?" 

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Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 16:28:32 +0100
From: chuck <cpalson@mediaone.net>
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Subject: Re: Cui bono, Chuck?
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    Robin Faichney wrote:

    > Could I clarify one point, Chuck?
    >
    > You say behaviour has to be useful, but useful to whom, exactly? Must
    > it be primarily of use to the behaving individual, his/her family or
    > part thereof, or the wider community?
    >

    The individual - which Dawkins calls the Survival Machine. The "community
    effect" if you will comes from the fact that social animals need to form
    alliances with each other. So -- the individual can be a legitimate unit
    of analysis.

    Although selection takes place at the "selfish gene" level, the aggregate
    effect must be the creation of a survival machine. On a probability basis,
    the individual will more likely form durable alliances with those who
    share more genetic material.

    Since I am sure you know this, I am waiting to hear the reason why you are
    asking me :)

    >
    > --
    > Robin Faichney
    >
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