lunes, 23 de marzo de 2009

Are You Sure That's An Evolutionary Stable Strategy?

Dawkins, in his explanation of aggression in animals, inevitably discusses fighting. All the forms of fighting are there, those who pick the fight, those who run away, those who win, those who lose, and those who defend their territory. What is interesting about all of this is the ESS. One would think that someone who wins all fights would be the best. However, as Dawkins explains, that is not always the evolutionary stable strategy. Maybe I should start telling people that before they even think about picking a fight with me.
What's really interesting about this book is the way it kind of unconsciously explains human nature. I have started to realize in the past couple of chapters, that in his explanation of this or that evolutionary thing, Dawkins accidentally makes a great point about human nature. That might turn out to be the conclusion to the book. In it he will explain how although he has explained genes and evolution, every chapter has also dealt with human nature. Maybe not.

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