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Nature's Oracle The Life and Work of W. D. Hamilton

ISBN: 9780198607274 | 019860727X

Edition: 1st
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Pub. Date: 3/1/2013

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Summary Table of Contents Author Biography

Hailed by Richard Dawkins as "the most distinguished Darwinian since Darwin," W. D. Hamilton was one of the truly innovative scientists of the 20th century, responsible for a sea change in our thinking about evolution--and in our understanding of life itself. In this illuminating and moving biography, Ullica Segerstrale captures Hamilton's extraordinary life and work, revealing a man of immense intellectual curiosity, an uncompromising truth-seeker, a naturalist and jungle explorer. Segerstrale's detailed research reveals the internal tensions ... MOREand conflicts behind Hamilton's creative genius, and the narrative is peppered with personal anecdotes of this eccentric yet brilliant scientist. The book shows how Hamilton throughout his life was a man against the grain, whose iconoclastic views challenged the scientific and medical establishment--and even caused controversy at the Vatican. In fact, Hamilton was so against the grain that his early career was a classic case of misunderstood genius, whose work was invariably attacked upon publication and only later proclaimed a major breakthrough. Among his insights was that what matters in evolution is not the survival of the individual but the survival of its genes, an idea that solved the longstanding problem of animal altruism that vexed even Darwin himself. He also proposed the well-known Red Queen theory of the evolution of sex and he helped open up many new fields (including sociobiology), shaping much of our current understanding of evolution. He died tragically from malaria contracted on an expedition to the Congo in 2000. Here then is an informed and engaging biography of one of the most influential scientists of our time, an unconventional thinker with a poet's soul and a deep concern for life on earth and mankind's future.

W.D.Hamilton (1936-2000) was responsible for a revolution in thinkingabout evolutionary biology - a revolution that changed our understanding of lifeitself.He played a central role in the realization that what matters in evolution isnot the survival of the individual but of the survival of its genes. Thisprovided the solution to the long standing problem of animal altruism that vexedeven Darwin himself, and in due course resulted in terms like selfish genes, kinselection, and sociobiology becoming familiar to a wider public. Hamilton wenton to solve many more major problems, and open up ever new fields - he shapedmuch of our current understanding of central problems including the evolution ofsexual reproduction and ageing. He became world famous and garneredinternational prizes.But this is all in hindsight. In fact, Hamilton's recognition came late - hiscareer is a classic case of misunderstood genius. In this illuminating andmoving biography Ullica Segerstrale documents Hamilton's extraordinary life andwork, revealing a man of immense intellectual curiosity, an uncompromisingtruth-seeker, a naturalist and jungle explorer, a risk-taker, an unconventionalscientist with a poet's soul and a deep concern for life on earth and mankind'sfuture.

W.D.Hamilton was responsible for one of the major revolutions in evolutionary thought since Darwin - that of the 'gene's eye view of life'. He was a scientific pioneer, a misunderstood genius: risk-taker, jungle explorer, and uncompromising truth-seeker. This illuminating and moving biography documents Hamilton's extraordinary life and science.

... MORE

Darwin's Heir
The Garden of Memories
The Boy from the Hill
The Quest
The Struggle
The Breakthrough
Sex and Death
Jungle Fever
Strategies of Life
Expanding Inclusive Fitness
A Fighting Chance
When Leaving is Better Than Staying
Why Sex?
Epiphany
It is a Sick World
Healthy Choice
Cooperation Evolving
Recognition - of Kin and Kinship Theory
The Parasite Red Queen and Her Enemies
In Tune With Nature
Through a Glass Darkly
A Fountain of Ideas
Truth at Any Price
The Last Expedition
A Glimpse Through the Canopy
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Ullica Segerstrale is Professor of Sociology at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences. An authority on the history and sociology of science, her books include Defenders of the Truth: The Battle for Science in the Sociobiology Debate, Beyond the
Science Wars: The Missing Discourse about Science and Society, and Nonverbal Communication: Where Nature Meets Culture.

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