Moving Past Conventionalism About Multilevel Selection

The formalism used to describe evolutionary change in a multilevel setting can be used equally to re-describe the situation as one where all the selection occurs at the individual level. Thus, whether multilevel or individual-level selection occurs seems to be a matter of convention rather than fact. Yet, group selection is regarded by some as an important concept with factual rather than conventional elements. I flesh out an alternative position that regards groups as a target of selection in a way that is not merely definitional fiat and provide a theoretical basis for this position.

Automated summary

The paper discusses the possibility that the level at which selection occurs, either at the multilevel or individual level, may be a matter of convention rather than fact. It proposes an alternative perspective that considers groups as a target of selection, supported by theoretical basis.