Richard Dawkins’ Flights of Fancy

#Quillette podcast host #JonathanKay speaks with renowned #evolutionarybiologist #RichardDawkins about his new book on the science and #mythology of life in the air—from #puffins and #flyingsquirrels to #fairies and #angels.

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Richard Dawkins is a renowned British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and author. He was born on March 26, 1941, in Nairobi, Kenya. Dawkins is best known for his advocacy of the "gene-centered view of evolution" and his work in evolutionary biology, specifically the theory of natural selection.

He studied zoology at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1962, and then proceeded to earn his Ph.D. in 1966. He studied under ethologist Nikolaas Tinbergen and started his career as a lecturer in Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, before returning to Oxford in 1970.

Dawkins first came to prominence with his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene," which popularized the gene-centric view of evolution and introduced the term "meme." The book argued that it is not groups or organisms that are the principal targets of natural selection, but genes themselves.

In 1982, he published "The Extended Phenotype," in which he argues that the phenotypic effect of a gene isn't necessarily limited to an organism's body, but can stretch far into the environment, including the bodies of other organisms.

Dawkins is also known for his outspoken atheism and skepticism. His book "The God Delusion," published in 2006, critiques religion and argues against the existence of a supernatural creator. It was a major best-seller and sparked much debate upon its release.

Dawkins founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to promote secularism and scientific literacy.

Despite his contributions to the field of biology and his advocacy for science and atheism, Dawkins has also been a controversial figure. His views and comments on topics such as religion, gender, and race have generated significant criticism and debate.

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