[ExI] Evolution "for the Good of the Group"

[Jef Allbright]

On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 3:25 PM, Keith Henson <hkeithhenson at gmail.com> wrote:
> During most of the human EEA, "group" and "relative" overlapped.  The
> tribe was the group and the tribe (or even smaller bands) were mostly
> relatives.  Now taking risk and even dying for a group of relatives is
> sound gene selection of the Hamilton/inclusive fitness variety.  The
> fact that these mechanisms can be fooled in modern times when we no
> longer live with tribal relatives is not a surprise.
>
> But it is discouraging to see people who should know better taking this stand.

Keith -

I'm looking forward to better understanding your position on this, but
Lizbeth and I are having our wedding tomorrow and I expect to be
preoccupied the next few days.

In the meantime, have your read this paper?  More generally, do you
accept epigenetic modes as valid?  Would you accept or agree that
biogenetic evolutionary processes represent only a subset of a broader
trend of "evolutionary" development including, for example, stellar
formation of the heavier elements?

- Jef