1st Edition

An Analysis of Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene

By Nicola Davis Copyright 2017
82 Pages
by Macat Library

82 Pages
by Macat Library

82 Pages
by Macat Library

Richard Dawkins provides excellent examples of his reasoning and interpretation skills in The Selfish Gene . His 1976 book is not a work of original research, but instead a careful explanation of evolution, combined with an argument for a particular interpretation of several aspects of evolution. Since Dawkins is building on other researchers’ work and writing for a general audience, the central... Read more

Ways in to the Text 

Who is Richard Dawkins?  

What does The Selfish Gene Say? 

Why does The Selfish Gene Matter? 

Section 1: Influences 

Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context  

Module 2: Academic Context 

Module 3: The Problem 

Module 4: The Author's Contribution 

Section 2: Ideas  

Module 5: Main Ideas 

Module 6: Secondary Ideas  

Module 7: Achievement  

Module 8: Place in the Author's Work  

Section 3: Impact 

Module 9: The First Responses  

Module 10: The Evolving Debate  

Module 11: Impact and Influence Today 

Module 12: Where Next? 

Glossary of Terms 

People Mentioned in the Text 

Works Cited

Biography

Dr Nicola Davis studied cell biology at Durham University and received her PhD from the Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at University College London.