Individuals and groups in evolution: Darwinian pluralism and the multilevel selection debate

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• The debate between kin selection and group selection has been contentious.
• Recent discussions, like Dawkins' critique of Wilson, focused on group selection's exclusivity with inclusive fitness theory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the 'kin selection vs group selection' debate.
• To propose a reconciliation through a pluralistic approach rooted in Darwinian principles.
• To frame group selection within a broader multilevel selection theory.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical and contemporary literature on evolutionary selection theories.
• Analysis of the mathematical and conceptual underpinnings of modern group selection.
• Proposal of population structure as a compatibility criterion.

Main Results:

• Both extreme 'kin selection only' and 'group selection only' viewpoints are likely incorrect.
• A pluralistic approach, integrating various selection levels, aligns with Darwin's original ideas.
• Modern group selection is a pattern within a larger multilevel selection framework.

Conclusions:

• Kin selection and group selection are not mutually exclusive but compatible within a multilevel selection theory.
• Darwinian pluralism offers a path forward for understanding evolutionary complexity.
• Further philosophical work is needed to define the logical structure of this emerging theory.