Title: Moral systems as evolutionary systems: Taking evolutionary ethics seriously
Abstract: In this paper I propose an evolutionary ethics that goes beyond mere description. I argue that the fact that human behavior is biologically constrained can give us some ideas about how to establish moral norms, so that the fact/value distinction in its strict sense is no longer tenable. Taking evolutionary ethics seriously means, after all, looking for possibilities of human beings as a biological species. Biological evolution does not entail any values and moral norms, but in organizing our social life we are well-advised to consider those factors that have channeled our evolution—i.e., not just ask what humans ought to do, but what they are able to do. My vantage point is that moral systems are evolutionary systems.
Publication Year: 1993
Publication Date: 1993-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 16
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