Many people think that the theory of the selfish gene says that “animals try to spread their genes.” That misstates the facts and it misstates the theory. Animals, including most people, know nothing about genetics and care even less. People love their children not because they want to spread their genes (consciously or unconsciously) but because they can’t help it. That love makes them try to keep their children warm, fed, and safe. What is selfish is not the real motives of the person but the metaphorical motives of the genes that built the person. Genes “try” to spread themselves by wiring animals’ brains so the animals love their kin and try to keep warm, fed, and safe. Steven Pinker
About This Quote

The selfish gene is a phrase used in evolutionary biology to describe a hypothetical gene that gives its owner a competitive advantage. The idea is that this gene would have been beneficial to the species because it would have increased the chances of reproduction for its owner.

Source: How The Mind Works

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