Clip 3: What did Richard Dawkins mean by "the selfish gene"? (Templeton Foundation)

[TaskmasterX]

In a Darwinist sense the organism does not live for itself. Its primary function is not even to reproduce other organisms; it reproduces genes, and serves as their temporary carrier.

[TaskmasterX]

Self-existence is not the central question of philosophy. The hypothalamus-limbic complex automatically denies such logical reduction by countering it with feelings of guilt & altruism. In this one way the philosopher's own emotional control centers are wiser than his solipsist consciousness, "knowing" that in evolutionary time the individual organism counts for almost nothing.

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

"I don't like reality, so anybody describing it must be wrong!"

Geez, that woman is stupid.

[jackfrombaltimore]

RW's summary of Dawkins was reasonably accurate. JR is full of crap, beginning with her remarks about Dawkins' supposed use of group selection. Dawkins explicitly REJECTED and still rejects the group selection model. And he HAS repeatedly corrected the mistaken interpretation that he was implying that PEOPLE are necessarily selfish, and expressed regret for that misinterpretation. The title should be read "The Selfish GENE", as he has often said. I don't think JR has actually read the book.

[derhammerman]

Ridiculous. Just read the friggin' book. are people that stupid?