--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that my main criticism in that…" description: "\"I think that my main criticism in that book was directed at the general assumption that adaptation characterizes populations and species, rather than s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg" --- # I think that my main criticism in that book was directed… ![“I think that my main criticism in that book was directed at the general assumption that adaptation characterizes populations and species, rather than simply the individuals in the populations and species.” quote by George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg) > “I think that my main criticism in that book was directed at the general assumption that adaptation characterizes populations and species, rather than simply the individuals in the populations and species.” [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques the view that adaptation is a property of groups, arguing that natural selection acts on individuals, not whole populations. **In simple terms:** Adaptation occurs in individuals, not groups. Key Takeaway Focus on individual variation in evolution. Themes evolution selection individualism population biology Mood analytical academic Type scientific educational When to use this quote - conservation strategies - medical genetics - education curricula Key Concepts natural selection group selection debate individual fitness Questions to Reflect On - How does individual variation shape species? - When is group-level adaptation relevant? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individuals may ignore emergent group traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) [Adaptation Characterizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation-characterizes-5734779/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [General Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-assumption-3471726/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Main Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-criticism-5508361/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [The main criticism that I get is, 'Aren't you just conforming to a patriarchal standard of beauty?' Well, this is just the body I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/the-main-criticism-that-i-get-is-aren-t-you-just-conforming-to-a/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [The general assumption, which I think is a valid one, is that a lot of the major media were on their heels a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/the-general-assumption-which-i-think-is-a-valid-one-is-that-a-lot-of/) [Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/) > [“In general the assumption of all of us, child or adult, was that this was a new country and that a new country had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/in-general-the-assumption-of-all-of-us-child-or-adult-was-that-this/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“The unglamorous truth is that there are but a handful of uniquely human traits that we have clearly demonstrated are adaptations evolved to thrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rutherford/the-unglamorous-truth-is-that-there-are-but-a-handful-of-uniquely/) [Adam Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rutherford/) > [“The tendency for depression to repeat reflects the normal default settings of a plastic mood system that is open to experience. The unfortunate consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rottenberg/the-tendency-for-depression-to-repeat-reflects-the-normal-default/) [Jonathan Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rottenberg/) > [There is change by necessity or adaptation, and there is contrived change or novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/there-is-change-by-necessity-or-adaptation-and-there-is-contrived/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [The world may not be ready yet for the film equivalent of books on tape, but this peculiar phenomenon has arrived in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-world-may-not-be-ready-yet-for-the-film-equivalent-of-books-on/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [My familiarity with the successful use of very long steel ropes for mining purposes naturally suggested their adaptation to the new purpose of deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-agassiz/my-familiarity-with-the-successful-use-of-very-long-steel-ropes-for/) [Alexander Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-agassiz/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by George C. Williams > [Darwin based his theory on generalizations that were strictly empirical. You can go out and see that organisms do vary, that variations are inherited,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/darwin-based-his-theory-on-generalizations-that-were-strictly/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Job's avoidance of rebellion against God has nothing to do with God being good or wise or anything like that; it's strictly because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/job-s-avoidance-of-rebellion-against-god-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Ever since then, all descendant vertebrates have had the forward end of the digestive system and the forward end of the respiratory system very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/ever-since-then-all-descendant-vertebrates-have-had-the-forward-end/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [The moment-of-conception fallacy implies that fertilization is a simple process with never a doubt as to whether it has or has not happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/the-moment-of-conception-fallacy-implies-that-fertilization-is-a/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Most evolving lineages, human or otherwise, when threatened with extinction, don't do anything special to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/most-evolving-lineages-human-or-otherwise-when-threatened-with/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [The only realistic view is that a human life arises gradually, which is not much help in making personal decisions or devising public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/the-only-realistic-view-is-that-a-human-life-arises-gradually-which/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [The general rule is that anything that is passed on in reproduction does not undergo senescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/the-general-rule-is-that-anything-that-is-passed-on-in-reproduction/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Many traditional religions foster attitudes that ought to have disappeared as biological understanding accumulated over the last century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/many-traditional-religions-foster-attitudes-that-ought-to-have/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [I am convinced that it is the light and the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/i-am-convinced-that-it-is-the-light-and-the-way/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) [Explore all 10 George C. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) ## More Adaptation quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [My familiarity with the successful use of very long steel ropes for mining purposes naturally suggested their adaptation to the new purpose of deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-agassiz/my-familiarity-with-the-successful-use-of-very-long-steel-ropes-for/) [Alexander Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-agassiz/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world may not be ready yet for the film equivalent of books on tape, but this peculiar phenomenon has arrived in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-world-may-not-be-ready-yet-for-the-film-equivalent-of-books-on/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [There is change by necessity or adaptation, and there is contrived change or novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/there-is-change-by-necessity-or-adaptation-and-there-is-contrived/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The tendency for depression to repeat reflects the normal default settings of a plastic mood system that is open to experience. The unfortunate consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rottenberg/the-tendency-for-depression-to-repeat-reflects-the-normal-default/) [Jonathan Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rottenberg/) > [“The unglamorous truth is that there are but a handful of uniquely human traits that we have clearly demonstrated are adaptations evolved to thrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rutherford/the-unglamorous-truth-is-that-there-are-but-a-handful-of-uniquely/) [Adam Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rutherford/) > [“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/you-must-be-shapeless-formless-like-water-when-you-pour-water-in-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“On the rare occasions on which a movie was shown, there was as much suspense in the audience over whether the electricity would hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/on-the-rare-occasions-on-which-a-movie-was-shown-there-was-as-much/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [Working on an adaptation is not as satisfying, because it's not your original work: you're interpreting. With 'L.A. Confidential,' I loved the book. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/working-on-an-adaptation-is-not-as-satisfying-because-it-s-not-your/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) [Browse all 476 Adaptation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that my main criticism in that book was directed at the general assumption that adaptation characterizes populations and species, rather than simply the individuals in the populations and species.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George C. Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-book-was-directed-at-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adaptation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-book-was-directed-at-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/george-c-williams-40870_adaptation_i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-b_732345.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that my main criticism in that book was directed at the general assumption that adaptation…” — George C. Williams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George C. Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that my main criticism...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-book-was-directed-at-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/i-think-that-my-main-criticism-in-that-book-was-directed-at-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```