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

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 and 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 of 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. 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. 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 And 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 Of 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. Growing Up At Oaldea -- Finding Life's Pattern -- Schoolboy At Tonbridge -- Fisher Found And Lost -- The Struggle For Altruism -- Altruism Through The Looking Glass -- Brazilian Break -- Sex And Death -- Challenges Of Social Life -- The Price Effect -- Creativity In A Tight Spot -- Priority Matters -- When Leaving Is Better Than Staying -- Encounters With Sociobiology -- The Parasite Paradigm -- Cooperation Without Kinship -- The Oxford Move -- Defending The Queen -- In Tune With Nature -- Truth At Any Price -- Creative Strategies -- Through A Glass Darkly -- The Final Defiance -- The Edge Of Creativity. Ullica Segerstrale. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 423-431) And Index. W.D.Hamilton (1936-2000) was responsible for a revolution in thinking about evolutionary biology - a revolution that changed our understanding of life itself. He played a central role in the realization that what matters in evolution is not the survival of the individual but of the survival of its genes. This provided the solution to the long standing problem of animal altruism that vexed even Darwin himself, and in due course resulted in terms like selfish genes, kin selection, and sociobiology becoming familiar to a wider public. Hamilton went on to solve many more major problems, and open up ever new fields - he shaped much of our current understanding of central problems including the evolution of sexual reproduction and ageing. He became world famous and garnered international prizes. But this is all in hindsight. In fact, Hamilton's recognition came late - his career is a classic case of misunderstood genius. In this illuminating and moving biography Ullica Segerstrale documents Hamilton's extraordinary life and work, revealing a man of immense intellectual curiosity, an uncompromising truth-seeker, a naturalist and jungle explorer, a risk-taker, an unconventional scientist with a poet's soul and a deep concern for life on earth and mankind's future.