Skip to main content
Log in

The strategy concept and John Maynard Smith’s influence on theoretical biology

  • Published:
Biology and Philosophy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Here we argue that the concept of strategies, as it was introduced into biology by John Maynard Smith, is a prime illustration of the four dimensions of theoretical biology in the post-genomic era. These four dimensions are: data analysis and management, mathematical and computational model building and simulation, concept formation and analysis, and theory integration. We argue that all four dimensions of theoretical biology are crucial to future interactions between theoretical and empirical biologists as well as with philosophers of biology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrawal A.A., Laforsch C. et al. (1999). Transgenerational induction of defenses in animals and plants. Nature 401: 60–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amundson R.(2005). The Changing Rule of the Embryo in Evolutionary Biology: Structure and Synthesis. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelrod R.M. (1990). The Evolution of Cooperation. Penguin Books, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelrod, R.M. (1997). The Complexity of Cooperation: Agent-based Models of Competition and Collaboration. Princeton University Press, Princeton N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bicchieri C., Jeffrey R.C. et al. (1999). The Logic of Strategy. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonner J.T. (2000). First Signals: The Evolution of Multicellular Development. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowles S. (2004). Microeconomics: Behavior, Institutions, and Evolution. Princeton University Press, New York Princeton N.J. Russell Sage

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks J.L. (1965). Predation and relative helmet size in cyclomorphic daphnia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 53: 119–126

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth B. (2004a). Anecdotal, historical and critical commentaries on genetics. John Maynard Smith: January 6, 1920–April 19, 2004. 168: 1105–1109

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth B. (2004b). John Maynard Smith (1920–2004). Curr. Biol. 14(10): R365–R366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gigerenzer G., Selten R. (2001). Bounded Rationality: The Adaptive Toolbox. MIT Press, Cambridge Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • Gintis H. (2000). Game Theory Evolving a Problem-centered Introduction to Modeling Strategic Behavior. Princeton University Press, Princeton N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grafen A. (2000). Developments of the price equation and natural selection under uncertainty. Proc. R. Soc. Lon. B 267(1449): 1223–1227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen E.H. and Hammerstein P. (2005). Evolutionary biology and the strategic view of onotogeny: genetic strategies provide robsutness and flexibility in the life course. Res. Hum. Dev. 2: 87–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall B.K. (1998). Evolutionary Developmental Biology. Chapman & Hall, London, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerstein P. 1996. Darwinian adaptation, population genetics and streetcar theory of evolution. J. Math. Biol. 34: 511–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerstein P. (2003). Genetic and Cultural Evolution of Cooperation. MIT Press in cooperation with Dahlem University Press, Cambridge Mass

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerstein P. and Hagen E.H. 2005. The second wave of evolutionary economics in biology. Trends. Ecol. Evol. 20(11): 604–609

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofbauer J., Sigmund K.,(1988). The Theory of Evolution and Dynamical Systems: Mathematical Aspects of Selection. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge [England], New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofbauer J. and Sigmund K.,(1998). Evolutionary Games and Population Dynamics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlin S. (2005). John Maynard Smith and Recombination. Theor. Popul. Biol. 68(1): 3–5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Komarova N.L. (2004). Replicator-mutator equation, universality property and population dynamics of learning. J. Theor. Biol. 230(2): 227–239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laubichler M.D. (2005). A constrained view of Evo Devo’s Roots. Science 309: 1019–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. 1958. The Theory of Evolution, [Harmondsworth, Middlesex], Penguin Books.

  • Maynard Smith J. (1968). Mathematical Ideas in Biology. Cambridge U.P., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1974). Models in Ecology. University Press, Cambridge [Eng.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1978). The Evolution of Sex. Cambridge [Eng.], Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1982). Evolution and the Theory of Games. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1988). Games, Sex, and Evolution. Harvester-Wheatsheaf, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1989). Evolutionary Genetics. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. (1999). Shaping Life: Genes, Embryos, and Evolution. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith J. and E. Szathmâary (1995). The Major Transitions in Evolution. W.H. Freeman Spektrum, Oxford New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Michod R.E. 2005. John Maynard Smith. Annu. Rev. Genet. 39: 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Noe R., J.A.R.M.v. Hooff et al. (2001). Economics in Nature: Social Dilemmas, Mate Choice, and Biological Markets. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Page K.M. and Nowak M.A. (2002). Unifying evolutionary dynamics. J. Theor. Biol. 219(1): 93–98

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Price G.R. (1970). Selection and covariance. Nature 227(5257):520–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raff R.A. (1996). The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Selten R. (1991). Game Equilibrium Models. Springer Verlag, Berlin New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigmund K. (2005). John Maynard Smith and evolutionary game theory. Theor. Popul. Biol. 68(1): 7–10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skyrms B. (1996). Evolution of the Social Contract. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Skyrms B. (2004). The Stag Hunt and the Evolution of Social Structure. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Spratt B.G. (2004). John Maynard Smith (1920–2004). Infect. Genet. Evol. 4(4): 297–300

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Szathmary E. and Hammerstein P. (2004). Obituary: John Maynard Smith (1920–2004). Nature 429(6989): 258–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Veelen M. 2005. On the use of the price equation. J. Theor. Biol. 237(4): 412–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Neumann J., Morgenstern O. (1953). Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner G.P. (2000). What is the promise of developmental evolution? Part I: why is developmental biology necessary to explain evolutionary innovations? J. Exp. Zool. 288(2): 95–98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner G.P. (2001). What is the promise of developmental evolution? Part II: a causal explanation of evolutionary innovations may be impossible. J. Exp. Zool. 291(4): 305–309

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner G.P. and Larsson H.C.,(2003). What is the promise of developmental evolution? III. The crucible of developmental evolution. J. Exp. Zool. B: Mol. Dev. Evol. 300(1): 1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manfred D. Laubichler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Laubichler, M.D., Hagen, E.H. & Hammerstein, P. The strategy concept and John Maynard Smith’s influence on theoretical biology. Biol Philos 20, 1041–1050 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-005-9022-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-005-9022-6

Keywords

Navigation