If a soldier dove on a grenade to save an enemy soldier who'd killed his mother, I'd be impressed in terms of it's apparent altruism...though I could imagine there'd be a Darwinian explanation (even if it doesn't occur to me in the moment.)
What about an environmental or a neurological or a psychological explanation? What's so special about genes as a causative factor?
I think Dawkins admits 'selfish' was the wrong term to use.
The main reason for this is because people constantly misunderstand it.
But it's helpful to think of a replicator-centric mechanism for evolution, versus anything on the organism level.
It certainly is the right way to think about evolution, and I also think the figure of speech is nice to have if not misunderstood.
What about an environmental or a neurological or a psychological explanation? What's so special about genes as a causative factor?
I'd imagine you'd be right. (Sufficient belief in an afterlife might do it.) Though I don't know if I'd rule out the genes.
The main reason for this is because people constantly misunderstand it.
Nonetheless.
It certainly is the right way to think about evolution, and I also think the figure of speech is nice to have if not misunderstood.
Exactly my thought.
What is something you used to believe, preferably something concrete with direct or implied predictions, that you now know was dead wrong. Was your belief rational given what you knew and could know back then, or was it irrational, and why?
Edit: I feel like some of these are getting a bit glib and political. Please try to explain what false assumptions or biases were underlying your beliefs - be introspective - this is LW after all.