An Introduction to Evolutionary Ethics

by James, Scott M.

• ISBN13: 9781405193979
• ISBN10: 1405193972
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-12-06
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Offering the first general introductory text to this subject, the timely Introduction to Evolutionary Ethics reflects the most up-to-date research and current issues being debated in both psychology and philosophy. The book presents students to the areas of cognitive psychology, normative ethics, and metaethics. The first general introduction to evolutionary ethics Provides a comprehensive survey of work in three distinct areas of research: cognitive psychology, normative ethics, and metaethics Presents the most up-to-date research available in both psychology and philosophy Written in an engaging and accessible style for undergraduates and the interested general reader Discusses the evolution of morality, broadening its relevance to those studying psychology

Author Biography

Scott M. James is Assistant Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. He has published work on evolutionary ethics in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research and the Australasian Journal of Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Philosopher and a Biologist Walk into a Bar ...

From "Selfish Genes" to Moral Beings: Moral Psychology after Darwin:

Natural Selection and Human Nature

The Basic Story

Some Common Misunderstandings

Mother Nature as Tinkerer

Evolutionary Psychology and Human Nature

An Evolved Mental Tool-Box

Some (More) Common Misunderstandings

Conclusion

The (Earliest) Roots of Right

Together We Stand?

Inclusive Fitness and the "Gene's-Eye" Point of View

Love Thy Neighbor -- But Love Thy Family First

False Positives and Core Systems

A Quick Note on "Altruism"

Reciprocal Altruism

Conclusion

The Caveman's Conscience: The Evolution of Human Morality

What Makes Moral Creatures Moral

The Evolution of Morality

Explaining the Nature of Moral Judgments

Conclusion

Just Deserts

The Ultimatum Game

The Public Goods Game

Winners Don't Punish

The Benefits of Guilt

A Lamb among Lions?

An Explanation for All of Morality?

Universal Morality or Universal Reason?

Conclusion

The Science of Virtue and Vice

Distress Test

Mind-Reading

"Them's the Rules"

Moral Innateness and the Linguistic Analogy

Switchboards, Biases, and Affective Resonances

Non-Nativist Doubts

Conclusion

From "What Is" to "What Ought To Be": Moral Philosophy after Darwin:

Social Harmony: The Good, the Bad, and the Biologically Ugly

From the Great Chain of Being, to the Tree of Life, to Morality

Uprooting the Tree of Life

Hume's Law

Deductively Valid Arguments

You Can't Get Out What You Don't Put In

"Of the Last Consequence"

Blocking the Move from Might to Right

Darwinism and Preserving the Human Species

Conclusion

Moore's Naturalistic Fallacy

The Open Question Test

Failing the Open Question Test: Desiring to Desire

Failing the Open Question Test: Spencer

Failing the Open Question Test: Wilson

Conclusion

Rethinking Moore and Hume

Some Preliminary Doubts about the Open Question Test

What Things Mean vs. What Things Are

Implications for Social Darwinism

Forays across the Is/Ought Gap: Searle

Forays across the Is/Ought Gap: Rachels

Conclusion

Evolutionary Anti-Realism: Early Efforts

This Is Your Brain on God

Preliminaries

Wilson

The Argument from Idiosyncrasy

The Argument from Redundancy

Causation, Justification, and . . . a Rotting Corpse

Conclusion

Contemporary Evolutionary Anti-Realism

Napoleon Pills

A Darwinian Dilemma

Conclusion

Options for the Evolutionary Realist

Option 1: Learning Right from Wrong

Option 2: Response Dependency

Option 3: Virtue Ethics Naturalized

Option 4: Moral Constructivism

Objections to the Realist Options

Conclusion

Notes

References

Index

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