Chapter 7

In Chapter 7, Dawkins speaks more about paternal “altruism.” He talks about parenting in two terms: caring for existing children or bearing new ones. Both take a lot of energy and sometimes they compete for energy and resources. Depending on the species, a different mix will be an Evolutionary Stable Strategy, but caring only will never be an ESS since the parents cannot pass on their genes.

Dawkins brings up another scientist, V. C. Wynne-Edwards, who hypothesizes that animals reduce their birth rates to increase the group’s survival, but Dawkins believes animals reduce their birth rates to increase individual survival. They have similar reasons for supporting their theories, but Dawkins argues that group survival increases the chance that energy won’t be wasted in child-bearing for the child to due. Therefore, it is not altruistic, but selfish because it increases individual survival.