Unit 2Nick JubyThe University of OklahomaRichard Dawkins wrote The Selfish Gene in 1976 and it still resonates throughout the scientific community today. The main theme of the book is based on studies of natural selection and evolution. Dawkins used the term selfish gene to describe his gene-centered view of evolution. In The Selfish Gene, Dawkins openly states that “we are born selfish.” Dawkins did not imply that geniuses are actually driven by motivation or that they lack foresight and do not plan ahead, but that they act in a way that can be described as “selfish.” The “selfish gene” principle states that humans are simply “genetic machines,” programmed to propagate our genes as far as possible. Natural selection ensures that unsuccessful people fail to spread their genes. Genes strive to replicate themselves, as if they are consciously planning the best way to achieve this goal. Dawkins' basic premise was that all genes compete with each other to reproduce for the next generation. Dawkins entered very controversial territory with The Selfish Gene, as the topic of sociobiology is controversial in itself. For every article that supports sociobiology, there is another that denounces it. Peter Lawler describes sociobiology as “the belief that human beings have a real nature and natural purposes, but a nature and purposes that are fully intelligible through evolution and not really different from those of other animals” (Lawler, 2003, par 2).When you really look at sociobiology, you can see how Dawkins arrived at some of his conclusions and where Edward O. Wilson's influences came into play. Susanna Jones does an excellent job showing how Wilson's t...... middle of paper ...... teachers indifferent to their profession, and teachers whose only concern is maintaining discipline and nothing else, while promote children's imagination is often extremely neglected. As Kozol points out, schools are funded predominantly by property taxes. While the tax rate is the same for counties and in cities like Chicago and New York, Kozol showed that wealthy counties and large city areas, where land and housing are worth more, receive more money from taxes on land and houses. to fund taxpayer-funded public schools in their counties or cities. This in turn gives a good reputation to the schools in that county, which greatly increases the market value of housing and the reputation of the area as a whole. All of this means that the tax base for schools in that county will increase as the value of housing and land increases.