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Review of E.O.Wilson's new book

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Peter Brooks

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May 17, 2012, 4:01:59 PM5/17/12
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I just came across this review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/books/review/the-social-conquest-of-earth-by-edward-o-wilson.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&ref=books&pagewanted=all

The book sounds fun. I think I'm going to have to get it - you can
read it on kindle..

Dave Smith

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May 18, 2012, 6:46:15 AM5/18/12
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The book may not say much that is new. The case for group selection has been made by the other Wilson (D.S.), and on the face of it the evolution of altruism might be explained by several mechanisms rather than just one (e.g. reciprocity, kin selection and group selection).

Dave Smith

Peter Brooks

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May 18, 2012, 6:50:04 PM5/18/12
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On May 18, 12:46 pm, Dave Smith <davidelliottsm...@btinternet.com>
wrote:
> On Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:01:59 PM UTC+1, Peter Brooks wrote:
> > I just came across this review:
>
> >http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/books/review/the-social-conquest-of...
>
> > The book sounds fun. I think I'm going to have to get it - you can
> > read it on kindle..
>
> The book may not say much that is new. The case for group selection has been made by the other Wilson (D.S.), and on the face of it the evolution of altruism might be explained by several mechanisms rather than just one (e.g. reciprocity, kin selection and group selection).
>
I agree. I am enjoying reading it, though, at the moment.

Dave Smith

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Jun 24, 2012, 6:03:55 AM6/24/12
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You and others might like to see a subsequent review by Dawkins, and a response to Dawkins' review from D S Wilson:

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/edward-wilson-social-conquest-earth-evolutionary-errors-origin-species/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sloan-wilson/richard-dawkins-edward-o-_b_1588510.html


Dave Smith
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