Discover an Excerpt from Richard Dawkins’ “The Selfish Gene” at The New Scientist Book Club

Intelligent life on Earth achieves maturity by uncovering the reasons for its existence. If advanced extraterrestrial beings were to visit our planet, they might ask, “Have they discovered evolution?” Life has thrived on Earth for over 300 million years, yet the understanding of its purpose remained elusive until the insights of Charles Darwin. While others had glimpses of the truth, Darwin offered the first coherent explanation of our existence. Thanks to his pioneering work, we can answer profound questions about life’s meaning without relying on superstitions. As eminent zoologist GG Simpson stated: “Attempts to answer these questions before 1859 are largely worthless.”

Today, the theory of evolution parallels our understanding of the heliocentric model of the solar system; however, its full implications are still not widely acknowledged. Zoology, despite its significance, remains underrepresented in academic institutions. Even students pursuing zoology often lack awareness of its profound philosophical implications. While this book does not serve as a wholesale defense of Darwinism, it aims to explore the far-reaching impact of evolutionary theory on our understanding of egoism and altruism.

This subject holds substantial importance for humanity, influencing aspects of social behavior, love, conflict, cooperation, theft, and generosity. The cases presented by Lorenz and Eibl Eibesfeldt often misinterpret evolution by focusing on species survival instead of individual genetic benefit. Ashley Montague critiques Lorenz for his alignment with the 19th-century notion of “nature red in tooth and claw.” I acknowledge Lorenz’s perspective but argue that “Nature red in tooth and claw” accurately reflects our modern understanding of natural selection.

Before diving into my argument, it’s essential to clarify its nature. If one considers a man thriving in Chicago’s gangster world, we would expect traits like toughness and loyalty based on the environment in which he succeeded. This book posits that all animals, including humans, are genetically designed machines. Throughout evolutionary competition, genes that have succeeded over millions of years tend to exhibit ruthless selfishness. This genetic inclination often translates to selfish behaviors in individuals. However, under specific circumstances, genes can foster limited forms of altruism at the individual level. “Special” and “limited” are crucial terms here, as concepts like universal love lack evolutionary justification.

Importantly, this book does not advocate a morality grounded in evolution; it emphasizes evolution as a biological reality rather than a moral directive. I believe that a society based merely on genetic selfishness would be undesirable. While observing our innate selfishness can be unsettling, it is a crucial recognition for societal improvement. The goal is to foster an environment where teaching generosity and altruism can thrive, understanding our genetic predispositions.

It is a common misconception that genetically inherited traits are immutable. Although genetics may guide us toward selfishness, individuals are not bound to follow these inclinations. Altruistic behaviors might simply be more challenging to cultivate than selfish ones. Humans uniquely navigate cultural influences, making it critical to understand both nature and nurture in shaping our behaviors. This book does not take a definitive stance on the nature versus nurture debate but instead seeks to investigate the rules that govern both genetic and cultural developments.

A distinguishing feature of this book is its focus on the behavior of humans and specific animal species, using factual details merely as illustrative examples. I argue that if both humans and baboons have evolved through natural selection, we should expect selfish behaviors across the board. If we observe altruism in human behavior, it poses intriguing questions that require explanation.

© Richard Dawkins

Excerpt from The Selfish Gene: 50^th Memorial Edition by Richard Dawkins (Oxford University Press). Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats June 2026, £25.00.

Join the New Scientist Book Club in June as we read The Selfish Gene. Sign up here to discuss it on Discord.