Overheated by Selfish Genes

[Dan Agin]

From what I know about him, I assume Ted Brown was already here
in the 1960s and 1970s. But Dr. Brown is a chemist, and I don't
know if he was or is aware of what happened in evolutionary
biology in those days. So here is an analogue: Suppose forty years
ago someone had written a book that offered the view that the
presence of satellite electrons surrounding atomic nuclei
illustrates the "possessiveness" of atomic nuclei, and more than
that the general principle that powerful entities will naturally
accumulate satellite entities, then promotes the idea as a basis
for social and political action. This goes on for forty years,
accepted by the media and the public, and heartily endorsed by
people in power and the hacks and lackeys who serve the people in
power.

Am I angry? You bet. Is my "Goodby Selfish Gene" piece
overheated? You bet.

Dan Agin