Evolutionary Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Evolutionary Ethics - Essay ExampleWhat some evolutionists seem to say is that stock which causes the doer of that conduct or even the race to which he belongs to survive is good conduct. It may be a plausible theory that prolongation of life in the soulfulness or in the race is a good thing, so that all actions hinting to it are good, but this is not an evolutionary theory of ethics. Like Sharmer (2004) wroteAs we transition from kin and reciprocal selflessness to species altruism and bio-altruism and as religion continues to give ground to science, we need a new ethic for an Age of Science, a new morality that not only incorporates the findings of science, but applies scientific thinking and the methods of science to tackling moral problems and resolving moral dilemmas. We have done well therefore far, but we can do better (p. 64)In contrast to the Shermers statement, there seems to be something unstable about every evolutionary theory which tends to turn into a theory of a d ifferent type. This is especially true of the greatest revolutionary theories of ethics, that of the twentieth century philosopher, Michael Shermer. Is there a natural selection and a survival of the fittest in the sphere of morality as there is in the sphere of biological evolution According to Shermerwith an ascending hierarchy of needs from self-survival of the individual (basic biological needs), to the quotation of the individual through the family (the selfish gene), to a sense of bonding with the extended family (driven by kin selection or helping those most related to us), to the reciprocal altruism of the community (direct and obvious payback for good behaviours), to indirect altruism of society (doing good without direct payback), to species altruism and bio-altruism as awareness of our membership in the species and biosphere continued to learn (p. 20). If we were dealing with the positive science of ethics we could certainly make generalizations very want those that ar e made by the Shermer. Individuals and races may vary their conduct, just like the chance variations of Shermer, and we may believe that certain varieties of conduct will lead the race or individuals that practise them to survive, while those practising other types of conduct will perish. There may be a struggle for existence in the world of men as in the world of animals only in the developed stages of that struggle the qualities which lead to survival will change, as Spencer himself realized. According to Richard Dawkin, such struggle engages not only human beings but lower beings too, all competing with each other for control resources1 (Bromberg). His philosophies are significant in realizing that human beings, in spite of everything, still act reluctantly on a biological level.The use of intelligence, as in the construction of aeroplanes and atomic bombs, and co-operation for