ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the fundamental logic of the theory of organic evolution by natural selection, focusing on key explanatory issues and basic concepts. Absent a firm understanding of organic evolutionary theory, attempts to develop or evaluate evolutionary thinking in the social sciences are futile. The integration of Darwinian evolutionary theory and Mendelian genetics, sometimes called “the Modern Synthesis,” established the foundation for studying phenotypic traits as evolved adaptations. In addition to morphological and physiological traits, behavior is also an evolved adaptation. A fundamental issue in evolutionary analysis is the “levels of selection” issue, and this chapter introduces and explains key issues embedded in that topic. In addition, the genetic bases of behavior, including social behavior, are explored in relation to the topics of kin selection and inclusive fitness, the problem of altruism, the phenomenon of reciprocal altruism, and basic forms of social symbioses. These discussions comprise a foundation for an introduction to sociobiology in Chapter 7.
