Genes, Genesis, and God: Values and their Origins in Natural and Human History

by Holmes Rolston

• ISBN13: 9780521646741
• ISBN10: 052164674X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-02-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Holmes Rolston challenges the sociobiological orthodoxy that would naturalize science, ethics, and religion. The book argues that genetic processes are not blind, selfish, and contingent, and that nature is therefore not value-free. The author examines the emergence of complex biodiversity through evolutionary history. Especially remarkable in this narrative is the genesis of human beings with their capacities for science, ethics, and religion. A major conceptual task of the book is to relate cultural genesis to natural genesis. There is also a general account of how values are created and transmitted in both natural and human cultural history. The book is thoroughly up-to-date on current biological thought and is written by one of the most well-respected figures in the philosophy of biology and religion.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part I. Genetic Values: Diversity and Complexity in Natural History: 1. Natural history: diversity and complexity

2. Contingent natural history?

3. Searching genes

4. Smart genes

5. Genetic algorithms

6. Intrinsic and inclusive genetic values

7. Distributed and shared genetic values

8. Storied natural history

Part II. Genetic Identity: Conserved and Integrated Values: 9. Genetic identity

10. Genes in organisms

11. Organisms in communities

12. Sexuality, selfishness, and community

13. Interspecifically and intraspecifically shared genes

Part III. Culture: Genes and the Genesis of Human Culture

14. Nature and culture

15. Gene-mind co-evolution

16. Genetic determinants in culture

17. The evolution of ideas

18. The human genius

19. Historical versus universal explanations in nature and culture

Part IV. Science: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated: 20. Science: generating and selecting theories

21. Science naturalized?

22. Science socialized

23. The selective advantage of science

24. Progress in scientific and in natural history

25. Transcendent science

26. An unfolding story

Part V. Ethics: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated

27. Moral value: love, justice, and respect

28. Naturalized ethics? Emergent, socialized morality

29. Naturalized ethics? Illusory, Darwinized morality

30. Evaluating ethics: values defended and shared

Part VI. Religion: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated: 31. The divine epic of life

32. Religion and fertility

33. Religion and altruism

34. Functional and true religion

35. Genesis and God.