Genes, hosts, goals: disentangling causal dependencies

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Philosophy of Science
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Richard Dawkins popularized the concept of the "selfish gene" in evolutionary theory.
• This concept frames genes as independent entities pursuing their own propagation.
• The applicability of this concept to other domains, such as goals, warrants examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concept of "selfishness" as defined by Dawkins.
• To assess the applicability of this concept to the relationship between goals and individuals pursuing them.
• To determine if goals can be considered to have independent self-interest.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of Richard Dawkins's "selfish gene" theory.
• Comparative analysis of the gene-host relationship versus the goal-pursuer relationship.
• Philosophical examination of agency and self-interest in relation to abstract concepts.

Main Results:

• The concept of "selfishness" in evolutionary theory, as popularized by Dawkins, is specific to genes.
• Goals, unlike genes, do not exhibit analogous independent self-interest in relation to the individuals who hold and pursue them.
• The analogy between selfish genes and selfish goals breaks down upon closer examination.

Conclusions:

• The "selfish gene" concept does not directly translate to the relationship between goals and individuals.
• Goals lack the independent agency and self-interest attributed to genes in evolutionary theory.
• Understanding the distinct nature of goals is crucial for accurately applying evolutionary concepts to human behavior.