The paper proposed a mechanism for specific selection for general learning ability. Selected offspring would tend to have an increased capacity for learning new skills rather than being confined to genetically coded, relatively fixed abilities. In effect, it places emphasis on the fact that the sustained behavior of a species or group can shape the evolution of that species.
Daniel Dennett mentions the Baldwin Effect in his book, Consciousness Explained. I haven’t perused the book itself but from what I’ve viewed it is worth reading. I did view the PBS video on Darwin’s Dangerous Idea based on Dennett’s book by the same title. I am not much into the science of evolution but do understand the basics.
