Revisiting George Gaylord Simpson’s “The Role of the Individual in Evolution” (1941)

“The Role of the Individual in Evolution” is a prescient yet neglected 1941 work by 20th century’s most important paleontologist, George Gaylord Simpson. In curious intermingling explanation and critique, Simpson engages questions that would become increasingly fundamental modern biological theory philosophy. Did individuality, adaptation, evolutionary causation reside at more than one level: cell, organism, genetically coherent reproductive group, social or some combination thereof? What was an individual, anyway? this introduction, we highlight two points wider historical context. First, recognizing political context Simpson’s writing profoundly deepens our understanding development his science as Modern Evolutionary Synthesis infused biology. Second, story illuminates emergence debates around what eventually come to be called multilevel selection theory. The organism-centered concept individuality defended situated relation then-emerging Synthesis, which he renowned player, also views opposed: “metaphysical” ideas paleontologists such Henry Fairfield Osborn, who claimed trends derived from potentialities already implanted germplasm; organicist Ralph W. Gerard Chicago School ecologists, derided all too congenial totalitarianism. We find parallels between ways thought then about human under totalitarianism way evolution; not any causal relationship linked two, but commonalities hierarchical structure exist single entities groups both instances. trace subsequent philosophical takes on role individual evolution through 1960s lightly sketch out later fate School. paper, originally published Journal Washington Academy Sciences (31:1–20), available supplementary material online version article, part "Classics Biological Theory" collection.