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Author Topic:   What morality can be logically derived from Evolution?
PaulK
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Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 7 of 32 (490939)
12-10-2008 1:25 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
12-09-2008 7:32 PM


No morality can be logically derived from evolution. Evolution is simply a fact about reality, it carries no moral weight at all. Like any other fact it may be a consideration in moral decisions but it has no impact on basic moral principles.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by RAZD, posted 12-09-2008 7:32 PM RAZD has replied

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 Message 11 by RAZD, posted 12-10-2008 7:36 AM PaulK has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 14 of 32 (490988)
12-10-2008 2:16 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by RAZD
12-10-2008 7:36 AM


Re: opt out option?
I'll grant that evolution can tell us something about the behaviour an animal species is likely to find acceptable.
However as you implicitly admit that behaviour will depend a lot more on the nature of the species in question.
More importantly, so far as we know, only humans have full-fledged moral codes and those are largely learned and the details are hugely influenced by culture.
Most important of all there is a big difference between using evolutionary principles to predict or explain elements of morality and actually using evolution to prescribe morality.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by RAZD, posted 12-10-2008 7:36 AM RAZD has replied

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 Message 19 by RAZD, posted 12-11-2008 9:03 PM PaulK has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 21 of 32 (491141)
12-12-2008 1:44 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by RAZD
12-11-2008 9:03 PM


Re: Cappucin Monkeys Do Unto Others
quote:
But I believe we can see evidence of such thinking in other species, especially in those we can communicate with (Koko etc), and in experiments such as the capuchin monkeys sense of "fairness"
As I stated at the start of my post::
I'll grant that evolution can tell us something about the behaviour an animal species is likely to find acceptable.
quote:
Would that not then leave such species predisposed to develop a moral system that includes those behaviors as moral?
If they have the capability to generate a fully-fledged moral system. I do not think that any species, other than humans has that ability.
quote:
Personally, I think much of what humans consider moral behavior is based on such predisposition due to our being a social animal. For instance, it is interesting to note that variations of the "do unto others" golden rule are found in all human cultures I am aware of, and that it makes a lot of sense in a social animal.
That basic principles underlying morality probably are largely due to evolution, which is why I stated that it was the details that were strongly affected by culture.

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 Message 19 by RAZD, posted 12-11-2008 9:03 PM RAZD has replied

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 Message 25 by Brad McFall, posted 12-12-2008 9:39 PM PaulK has not replied
 Message 27 by RAZD, posted 12-13-2008 4:57 PM PaulK has replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 17827
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 29 of 32 (491311)
12-14-2008 3:48 AM
Reply to: Message 27 by RAZD
12-13-2008 4:57 PM


Re: Cappucin Monkeys Do Unto Others
I am not claiming that there is a clear, hard theoretical line which would distinguish a fully developed morality. I AM claiming that there is a major gap between modern humans and all other species currently existing on this planet. Historically, of course, this gap has been bridged but thoss e species are extinct and we have little information on their behaviour.
Evolution is the historical explanation for why we have the basic instincts that morality is built on. But we must be clear that they are part of a package - including other behavioural and even physical aspects - and that that package is just one of the possibilities that evolution allows.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 27 by RAZD, posted 12-13-2008 4:57 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
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