Oliver Mayo:

Evolution by Natural Selection and Ethics

What in evolution has ethical implications?

2018. 114 pages, 6 figures, 17x25cm, 530 g
Sprache: English

ISBN 978-3-443-50040-5, bound, Preis: 19.90 €

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Schlagworte

natural selection • ethics • evolutionary theory • Ferdinand Brunetière • human evolution

Synopsis nach oben ↑

This book reviews evidence that virtues and particularly vices have been and can be subject to a natural selection process and how, if at all, Brunetière’s theory in particular holds up today.
In the early 1890s, renowned French writer and critic Ferdinand Brunetière, after reading the most recent studies of evolution by natural selection, attempted to assess whether the theory of evolution by natural selection was in accord with Christian morality, that is whether revelation, which is considered the basis for “right” conduct, was consistent with scientific thought. He then concluded that it was.
A century and a quarter of additional research into this topic later, and the theory of natural selection confirmed, the question of whether evolutionary theory can provide a basis for morality consistent with revelation is asked anew by Oliver Mayo: Can anything but revelation provide a basis for ethics?
The author addresses both scientists and a readership interested in the connection between evolution an ethics, with general interest in evolutionary theory from the perspective of science and ethics.

Table of Contents nach oben ↑

What in evolution has ethical implications? 5
1 Introduction 6
1.1 The question: What in evolution has ethical implications? 11
2 General considerations 15
2.1 Consciousness 15
2.2 Belief 16
2.3 Discrimination 18
2.4 The naturalistic fallacy 19
2.5 Axiomatic grounding for ethics 21
2.6 Natural selection, including sexual selection 23
2.6.1 Utility 25
2.6.2 Optimization 26
2.7 Inference from historical and model evidence 28
3 Examples 30
3.1 Ageing 30
3.2 Altruism 31
3.3 Competition 33
3.4 Extinction 34
3.5 Suicide 34
3.6 Reciprocal mutualism 36
3.6.1 Co-operation 36
3.7 Cheating 37
3.7.1 Mimicry 39
3.8 Size 40
3.9 Dollo’s Law 42
3.10 Multiple pathways to the same constrained objective 43
3.11 Positive attributes and flaws 44
3.12 ‘Seven deadly sins’ 44
3.12.1 Avarice 45
3.12.2 Pride 45
3.12.3 Lust 45
3.12.3.1 Sexuality 46
3.12.4 Wrath 47
3.12.4.1 Aggression 47
3.12.5 Sloth 48
3.12.6 Gluttony 49
3.12.6.1 Addiction 49
3.12.7 Jealousy and envy 50
3.12.7.1 ‘Spite’ in other animals than humans 50
3.13 Genetical defects 51
3.13.1 ‘Hopeful monsters’ 51
3.14 Chomsky’s theory of language: a single mutation, not something that evolved 52
3.15 Eugenics 53
3.16 Xenophobia and abjection 54
3.17 Equity 54
3.18 Reproduction 54
3.18.1 Non-breeding behaviour 55
3.19 Waste 56
3.20 Parasitism 57
3.21 Laughter 57
3.22 Immortality 58
4 Lessons 59
4.1 The Fall 59
4.2 ‘Original sin’ 60
4.3 How is it that we need Theodicy? 61
4.4 Free will 62
4.5 Conclusions 66
Acknowledgements 69
References 70
The Morality of Evolutionary Theory Ferdinand Brunetière 70
Biographical note on Brunetière 91
References 92
Index 110

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