Evolution, religion, and ignorance.

[Chas]

And Gould was profoundly wrong. There is only one level at which evolution operates: selection of genes via the proxy of the phenotype.

Your pronouncement is noted. Others think that the unit of selection can be the cell, group, species, or higher level.

And those are illusory or easily reducible to the genetic level.

Most modern evolutionary biologists accept that the idea [gene level] is consistent with many processes in evolution. However, the view that selection on other levels, such as organisms and populations, seldom opposes selection on genes is more controversial. While naïve versions of group selectionism have been disproved, more sophisticated formulations make accurate predictions in some cases while positing selection at higher levels. Nevertheless, the explanatory gains of using sophisticated formulations of group selectionism as opposed to Dawkins's gene-centred selectionism are still under dispute. Both sides agree that very favourable genes are likely to prosper and replicate if they arise and both sides agree that living in groups can be an advantage to the group members. The conflict arises not so much over disputes on hard facts but over what is the best way of viewing evolutionary selection in animals.