--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: theory of natural selection itself seems…" description: "\"“theory of natural selection itself seems calculated to foster selfishness at the expense of public good, violence, callous indifference to suffering, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/christopher-hitchens-117_biology_theory-of-natural-selection-itself-seems_3098895.jpg" --- # theory of natural selection itself seems calculated to… ![“theory of natural selection itself seems calculated to foster selfishness at the expense of public good, violence, callous indifference to suffering, short term greed at the expense of long term foresight. If scientific theories could vote, evolution would surely vote Republican.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/christopher-hitchens-117_biology_theory-of-natural-selection-itself-seems_3098895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/christopher-hitchens-117_biology_theory-of-natural-selection-itself-seems_3098895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/christopher-hitchens-117_biology_theory-of-natural-selection-itself-seems_3098895.jpg) > ““theory of natural selection itself seems calculated to foster selfishness at the expense of public good, violence, callous indifference to suffering, short term greed at the expense of long term foresight. If scientific theories could vote, evolution would surely vote Republican.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evolutionary theory can be interpreted as promoting selfish, short‑term interests, implying political bias, though this is a rhetorical exaggeration. **In simple terms:** Evolutionary theory is sometimes framed as selfish. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about science and politics. Themes science politics ethics Mood critical ironic Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - public policy debate - education - media analysis - environmental planning Key Concepts evolutionary biology political theory Questions to Reflect On - How does framing science politically affect public trust? - Can evolution be neutral? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex science for satire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Foster Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foster-selfishness-5361650/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Natural selection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-selection/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Theories Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theories-vote-5361649/) [Theory Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-natural-1097003/) ## Related quotes > [The theory of natural selection reduces to a banal truth: if a kind of creature flourishes in a kind of situation, then there must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-fodor/the-theory-of-natural-selection-reduces-to-a-banal-truth-if-a-kind-of/) [Jerry Fodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-fodor/) > [Natural Selection is not Evolution. 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