| Description |
xii, 267 pages ; 24 cm |
| Series |
Oxford series in ecology and evolution |
|
Oxford series in ecology and evolution.
|
| Contents |
[Pt.] 1. An expanded view of social evolution. The biological hierarchy, the evolution of individuality, and the major evolutionary transitions -- Strengths of the 'major transitions view' of evolution and aims of this book -- Defining major evolutionary transitions and their component stages -- Inclusive fitness theory and the evolution of cooperation -- Challenges remaining in the study of social evolution -- Summary -- [pt.] 2. A primer in inclusive fitness theory. Hamilton's rule and relatedness -- The effect of levels of relatedness on evolvable types of social action -- Social conflict and the tragedy of the commons -- Assumptions of inclusive fitness theory -- The value of inclusive fitness theory -- Summary -- [pt.] 3. The major transitions in light of inclusive fitness theory. Egalitarian versus fraternal major transitions -- Conflict resolution -- Life cycles and the major transitions -- Summary -- [pt.] 4. Social group formation. Pathways of social group formation -- Genetic factors in social group formation -- Ecological factors in social group formation -- Synergistic factors in social group formation -- Hamilton's rule and social group formation -- Summary -- [pt.] 5. Social group maintenance. Limitation of exploitation : principles and processes -- Limitation of exploitation from outside -- Limitation of exploitation from inside : self-limitation through negative frequency-dependence -- Limitation of exploitation from inside : self-limitation through excessive costs to the group -- Limitation of exploitation from inside : limitation by others through coercion -- Predicting the outcome of the limitation of exploitation -- Summary -- [pt.] 6. Social group transformation. The size-complexity hypothesis for social group transformation -- Simple versus complex social groups -- External drivers leading to greater size in social groups -- Effect of increasing size of the social group on group complexity -- Self-reinforcing social evolution in social group transformation -- The size-complexity hypothesis : conclusions -- Summary -- [pt.] 7. Synthesis and conclusions. The principles of social evolution : a summing-up -- Open questions in the study of social evolution -- The next major transition -- Summary |
| Summary |
Living things are organized in a hierarchy of levels. Genes group together in cells, cells group together in organisms, and organisms group together in societies. Even different species form mutualistic partnerships. Throughout the history of life, previously independent units have formed groups that, in time, have come to resemble individuals in their own right. Evolutionary biologists term such events "the major transitions". The process common to them all is social evolution.Each transition occurs only if natural selection favours one unit joining with another in a new kind of group. This book presents a fresh synthesis of the principles of social evolution that underlie the major transitions, explaining how the basic theory underpinning social evolution - inclusive fitnesstheory - is central to understanding each event. The book defines the key stages in a major transition, then highlights the shared principles operating at each stage across the transitions as a whole. It addresses in new ways the question of how, once they have arisen, organisms and societies become more individualistic |
| Notes |
Formerly CIP. Uk |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Subject |
Evolution (Biology)
|
|
Social evolution.
|
| LC no. |
2011281386 |
| ISBN |
019923115X (hbk.) |
|
0199231168 (paperback) |
|
9780199231157 (hbk.) |
|
9780199231164 (paperback) |
|
