Re: Article: Group selection, a theory whose time has come...again

On Dec 9, 11:40 pm, Bill Morse <wdNOSPAmo...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Guy A Hoelzer wrote:
Bob,

I disagree and I think this approach would do a real disservice to the
evolutionary science community. The whole point of the kin selection
perspective, in my point of view (Hamilton differed), is that altruism can
only evolve as a correlated response to selection at some other level.
Kin selection works equally well as an explanation for altruism whether
you consider it a consequence of selection at the level of the gene or as
group
selection. In fact, these two perspectives have been shown to be
mathematically equivalent. However, kin selection cannot be properly
interpreted as a consequence of selection at the level of the individual.
In other words, kin selection theory has no validity outside of the
multilevel selection framework.

The Wilson and Wilson article referred to by RKS supports your viewpoint
(although I have only gotten about halfway through it so far). They in fact
claim (if I am reading it correctly) that kin selection will not result in
the evolution of altruism based only on individual selection - it still
takes selection at the level of the group for this to work.

While engaging in a discussion on this on t.o, I raised the question of
whether monogamy counts as group selection. Monogamy can't be explained by
kin selection (there is in fact selection against mating by kin). On first
impression, monogamy would seem to be susceptible to the usual instability
in the face of cheaters argument classically used to dismiss group
selection.

It certainly could be explained by kin selection. In some species,
both genders take care of their young. From the standpoint of
individual A, the arrangement increases the chances of survival for
A's closest relatives (A's offspring), regardless of the benefits to
the other partner. If individual B has its resources divided by taking
care of individual C' offspring, the chances of the offspring of
individual A go down.
If individual A marries his sister, individual D, the chances of
a recessive gene killing the closest relatives of both has increased.
So kin selection would work against incestous relationships. Both A
and D would be better served by introducing their sibling to an
unrelated partner. They are then helping their closest kin have
healthy offspring. This is kin selection, but still discourages
increase. And they would be better off in terms of kin selection
encouraging monogamy.
If my brother in law cheats with another man, it doesn't do my
nephews a great deal of good. My brother in law could be taking care
of or having more children with my sister. So I will encourage my
sister to marry someone outside the family, hopefully someone without
extra wives.
The survival value of monogamy will vary greatly with local
environment. This is why its practice varies a great deal.
Its no different from any other form of mutualism, which occurs
even between species. Of course, it can also be explained by group
selection. However, the argument has been made that group selection is
a special case of kin selection.

.

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