Joe Felsenstein wrote:

> JF:-
> ..I tried to show, by an argument using a simple model
> (of the sort universally used in evolutionary genetics), that
> Hamilton's rule worked in that model.  It turned out that the 
> assumptions of
> the model (that slip in the front door -- that's how you make a model)
> could not be accepted by McGinn.

JE:-
Professor Felsenstein now has the opportunity 
(if not an obligation) to explain to sbe readers
how these simplified/over-simplified models 
validly connect to testable theory within the 
biological sciences. My argument has never been
that these models are not mathematically valid,
it has always been they have been biologically 
misused. My prime example is Hamilton's Rule
but many others exist. I argue that without the
total fitness of the actor included within 
Hamilton's Rule it remains a misuse of that rule
to employ it (as it has been employed for over
50 years) as a stand alone fitness accounting
device to measure when organism fitness altruism
can evolve within nature. Without the total fitness
of the actor the rule remains 100% relative. This
being the case the sign of c must remain arbitrary.
Yet, only the sign of c can differentiate between
organism fitness altruism and its nemeses organism
fitness within a science of biology. Professor
Felsenstein must be aware that Professor Dawkins 
books (which have been endorsed by the University
Of Oxford) which are published to inform the general 
public about evolutionary theory and Professor Wilson's 
Sociobiology remain entirely based on 
Hamilton's Rule. Because this rule "worked in that 
model" does not necessarily mean that the model works 
when applied to the science of biology. 

Would Professor Felsenstein 
please explain to long suffering sbe readers if he is 
arguing that these models can validly replace refutable 
theory within the biological sciences. 

Regards,

John Edser
Independent Researcher

PO Box 266
Church Pt
NSW 2105
Australia

edser{at}tpg.com.au
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