THE WTM PRESS LIBRARY
The Selfish Gene
A change in the unit of analysis can change what an explanation reveals.
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Pragmatic review
Dawkins explains evolution through a gene-centred perspective, including cooperation and the familiar language of replicators. For a general reader, the value is analytical: asking what persists, what is selected and at what level. Treat this as a biological account that sharpens questions, rather than a ready-made theory of business or culture.
WTM Signal Review
WTM’s judgement: a powerful lens with clear boundaries. “Selfish” describes a metaphorical evolutionary perspective, not a moral instruction or proof that people should behave selfishly. Analogy across biology and society requires independent evidence; biological explanation cannot settle an ethical decision.
One practical next step
State the unit being optimised in one system, then test whether the metaphor still fits when the unit changes.
Research-based reading note: Oxford University Press description; no claim of a full-text review.
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Sources and editions
Edition
Linked Oxford anniversary edition: ISBN 9780198788607; cover may differ from the photographed edition.
Author and contributor records
Book sources
Launch research: 9 October 2026. Preview entries link to WTM availability information, not a checkout.