David Sloan Wilson
Encyclopedia
David Sloan Wilson is an American
evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University
. He is a son of the author Sloan Wilson
.
. He then completed his Ph.D. in 1975 from Michigan State University. He then worked as a Research Fellow in the Biological Laboratories at Harvard University
from 1974-1975. He then held a dual position as a Research Associate in Zoology at the University of the Witwatersrand
and the University of Washington
from 1975-1976. After this he was a Senior Research Officer at the South African National Research Institute for the Mathematical Sciences from 1976-1977. Wilson then moved back to the United States and held an Assistant Professorship in the Division of Environmental Studies at the University of California, Davis from 1977-1980. He then served as an Assistant and then Associate Professor at the Kellogg Biological Station
and Department of Zoology of Michigan State University
from 1980-1988. Wilson was then promoted to full Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University of New York, Binghamton in 1988. He was then given a joint appointment as Professor of Anthropology in 2001.
Wilson started the Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program at Binghamton University to provide a program that unifies diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Students in the program take evolution-themed courses in a variety of disciplines including biology, anthropology, psychology, bioengineering, philosophy, religion
and the psychology of religion
. There is also a required course called Current Topics in Evolutionary Studies where students attend weekly seminars with a discussion followed afterward. SUNY New Paltz has started a similar program.
(also known as multi-level selection) in evolution. He and Elliott Sober
proposed a framework called multilevel selection theory, which incorporates the more orthodox approach of gene-level selection and individual selection, in their book Unto Others. This framework argues that while genes serve as the means by which organisms' designs are transmitted across generations, individuals and groups are vehicles for those genes and both are arenas for genes to act on. Indeed, genes themselves can be affected by selection, not just because of their effects on the design of their vehicle (the organism) but also because of their effect on the functioning of the DNA on which they reside. Hence, the notion of multilevel selection. Wilson has also coined the concept of a trait-group, a group of organisms linked not permanently as a group but having a shared fate due to interactions that they have.
proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation, a product of cultural evolution developed through a process of multi-level selection for more cooperative and cohesive groups. His book Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives attempts to give an introduction to evolution for a broad audience, detailing the various ways in which evolution can be applied to everyday affairs. There is also a class at Binghamton University that is called "Evolution for Everyone", and students are required to read the book as part of the class.
Wilson's latest book is The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time, published in August 2011.
D.S. Wilson and his co-author E.O. Wilson (no relation) have become well-known for the quote, "Selfishness beats altruism within groups. Altruistic groups beat selfish groups. Everything else is commentary." This quote appeared in their paper, "Rethinking the Theoretical Foundation of Sociobiology."
Wilson is now a blogger for the ScienceBlogs
, where he extensively discusses and defends both the theory of evolution and his multilevel selection model.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
. He is a son of the author Sloan Wilson
Sloan Wilson
Sloan Wilson was an American author.-Reporter:Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Wilson graduated from Harvard University in 1942. He served in World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard, commanding a naval trawler on the Greenland patrol and an army supply ship in the Pacific Ocean.After...
.
Academic career
Wilson graduated with a B.A. with high Honors in 1971 from the University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He then completed his Ph.D. in 1975 from Michigan State University. He then worked as a Research Fellow in the Biological Laboratories at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1974-1975. He then held a dual position as a Research Associate in Zoology at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
from 1975-1976. After this he was a Senior Research Officer at the South African National Research Institute for the Mathematical Sciences from 1976-1977. Wilson then moved back to the United States and held an Assistant Professorship in the Division of Environmental Studies at the University of California, Davis from 1977-1980. He then served as an Assistant and then Associate Professor at the Kellogg Biological Station
Kellogg Biological Station
Kellogg Biological Station , Michigan State University's largest off-campus education complex, is located in Hickory Corners, Michigan . Many of the facilities there were originally built by Will Keith Kellogg of Kellogg's cereal, after whom the station is named...
and Department of Zoology of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
from 1980-1988. Wilson was then promoted to full Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University of New York, Binghamton in 1988. He was then given a joint appointment as Professor of Anthropology in 2001.
Wilson started the Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program at Binghamton University to provide a program that unifies diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Students in the program take evolution-themed courses in a variety of disciplines including biology, anthropology, psychology, bioengineering, philosophy, religion
Evolutionary origin of religions
The evolutionary origin of religions theorizes about the emergence of religious behavior during the course of human evolution.- Nonhuman religious behavior :...
and the psychology of religion
Evolutionary psychology of religion
The evolutionary psychology of religion is the study of religious belief using evolutionary psychology principles. It is one approach to the psychology of religion. As with all other organs and organ functions, the brain and cognition's functional structure have been argued to have a genetic basis,...
. There is also a required course called Current Topics in Evolutionary Studies where students attend weekly seminars with a discussion followed afterward. SUNY New Paltz has started a similar program.
Research
Wilson is a prominent proponent of the concept of group selectionGroup selection
In evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups, regardless of the alleles' effect on the fitness of individuals within that group....
(also known as multi-level selection) in evolution. He and Elliott Sober
Elliott Sober
Elliott Sober is Hans Reichenbach Professor and William F. Vilas Research Professor in the Department of Philosophy at University of Wisconsin–Madison. Sober is noted for his work in philosophy of biology and general philosophy of science. Sober taught for one year at Stanford University and has...
proposed a framework called multilevel selection theory, which incorporates the more orthodox approach of gene-level selection and individual selection, in their book Unto Others. This framework argues that while genes serve as the means by which organisms' designs are transmitted across generations, individuals and groups are vehicles for those genes and both are arenas for genes to act on. Indeed, genes themselves can be affected by selection, not just because of their effects on the design of their vehicle (the organism) but also because of their effect on the functioning of the DNA on which they reside. Hence, the notion of multilevel selection. Wilson has also coined the concept of a trait-group, a group of organisms linked not permanently as a group but having a shared fate due to interactions that they have.
Publications
Wilson's book Darwin's CathedralDarwin's Cathedral
Darwin's Cathedral is a 2002 book by David Sloan Wilson which proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation, a product of cultural evolution developed through a process of multi-level selection. It is cited by approximately 200 books....
proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation, a product of cultural evolution developed through a process of multi-level selection for more cooperative and cohesive groups. His book Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives attempts to give an introduction to evolution for a broad audience, detailing the various ways in which evolution can be applied to everyday affairs. There is also a class at Binghamton University that is called "Evolution for Everyone", and students are required to read the book as part of the class.
Wilson's latest book is The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time, published in August 2011.
D.S. Wilson and his co-author E.O. Wilson (no relation) have become well-known for the quote, "Selfishness beats altruism within groups. Altruistic groups beat selfish groups. Everything else is commentary." This quote appeared in their paper, "Rethinking the Theoretical Foundation of Sociobiology."
Wilson is now a blogger for the ScienceBlogs
ScienceBlogs
ScienceBlogs is an invitation-only blog network and virtual community. It was created by Seed Media Group in 2006 to enhance the public understanding of science. , ScienceBlogs hosted 75 blogs dedicated to various fields of research. Each blog has its own theme, specialty, and author and is not...
, where he extensively discusses and defends both the theory of evolution and his multilevel selection model.
External links
- Wilson's personal homepage
- "Darwin's God" article in New York Times Magazine for March 4, 2007. Includes interview with Wilson.
- "Evolution: Survival of the selfless" article written with E. O. Wilson in New Scientist, 03 November, 2007
- EVOS Evolutionary Studies Program at Binghamton University
- Video: Ethics and the University
- Rethinking the Theoretical Foundation of Sociobiology