Ethology > Key players >
William Donald Hamilton

Last updated on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
An audio version of this document will soon be available to you at www.studio-coohorte.fr. The Studio Coohorte gives you access to the best audio synthesis on the market in a sleek and powerful interface. If you'd like, you can learn more and test their advanced text-to-speech service yourself.

The Concept: William Donald Hamilton

William Donald Hamilton was a prominent evolutionary biologist known for his groundbreaking work in the field of ethology. He is best known for his work on inclusive fitness theory, which revolutionized our understanding of the evolution of social behavior.

Key Contributions:

Hamilton's most significant contribution to the field of ethology was the development of inclusive fitness theory. This theory suggests that individuals can increase their genetic success not just by reproducing themselves, but also by helping close relatives reproduce. This idea laid the foundation for our understanding of altruistic behavior in animals.

Hamilton's work also helped explain the evolution of traits such as cooperation, aggression, and parental care in various species. By studying how these behaviors increase the overall genetic success of individuals, he provided crucial insights into the mechanisms driving social behavior in the natural world.

Overall, William Donald Hamilton's work continues to influence and shape the field of ethology, providing a framework for understanding the complex interplay between genes, behavior, and evolution.

 

If you want to learn more about this subject, we recommend these books.

 

You may also be interested in the following topics: