A Letter From The Publisher, Aug. 1, 1977

• Share

Man's social behavior, like that of other animals, is influenced by his genes. So runs the controversial proposition at the heart of a new discipline called sociobiology. This week's cover story takes a look at sociobiology, the latest incarnation of Darwinism, examining its proposals that man's behavior is based on evolution, that even the golden rule—do as you would be done by—derives from a genetically based reciprocal altruism designed to help individuals perpetuate their own genes.

"At first, most people seem to be fascinated by sociobiology, but at the same time they hate it," says Senior Editor Leon Jaroff, who edited this story. "They feel diminished by the theory. They'd like to think that most of their behavior is determined by intellect, whereas the sociobiologists are saying that it's a result of evolution."

Senior Correspondent Ruth Mehrtens Galvin, who did most of the reporting for this story, has followed the subject for five years. "When and if the sociobiological perspective becomes understood," says Galvin, "I feel that future generations will use it as matter-of-fact-ly as my generation has used the ideas of Sigmund Freud."

Thus far, sociobiological theory has been based on a fairly small amount of specific evidence that must be amplified over the years if the theories are to be proved. Whether sociobiology's immediate interpretations, and inevitable misapplications, are helpful to society is a matter of question. But sociobiology is philosophically significant—and provocative—because it is the latest chapter

in the age-old debate of free will v. predestination.

"It can be made to square with many pre-existing bodies of thought," says Behavior Writer John Leo. "After all, sociobiologists are simply saying there are built-in limits to what man can do. It's the flip side of the liberal view that believes we can make people better simply by improving their environment." After days given to pondering sociobiological research and theories with Reporter-Researcher Gaye Mclntosh, Leo observes: "Spend enough time with it and you'll be looking at your own behavior the way Konrad Lorenz looks at geese."