The Selfish Gene at 50: How a Milestone can also be a Millstone

Its fiftieth anniversary seems like a good occasion to compare Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene (1976) with other science classics. As is often the case with influential ideas, its core message is deeply rooted in earlier thought. Moreover, because of the specific, sociobiological context in which it emerged, that message was advanced for the wrong reason - as a misguided argument against group selection - for which there are also important precedents. Furthermore, as is often the case when important insights gain traction through a landmark publication, The Selfish Gene provoked controversy, which in this instance was intensified by its sociobiological origins. Yet in one crucial respect, Dawkins' book differs from other classics. Whereas new theories typically evolve beyond their initial breakthrough, Dawkins' original and controversial selfish gene theory has remained remarkably influential. This historical anomaly can be linked to the "messy patchwork of several loosely connected subfields" that make up evolutionary biology. Seen in this broader historical light, The Selfish Gene stands out, not only as a scientific milestone, but also as an atypical millstone for the message it conveyed.