&gt; I usually interpret &#x27;selfish&#x27; to mean genes that produce defectors (ie no flip) since there is a local benefit to the organism (and thus the gene itself over short timescales) but Dawkins does use it a bit more broadly.<p>Dawkins seems to define &quot;selfish gene&quot; as &quot;one caring about its long term survival and spread&quot;, whether individual tortoises like it or not. Because that&#x27;s what ultimately counts - contemporary tortoises are shaped by genes which survived millions of years by whatever means happened to be successful, which needs not to be defection.<p>And, btw, you may want to actually read TSG, it&#x27;s pretty cool :)