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Transcript
Can Christian Values Survive Evolutionary Analysis? David Lahti City University of New York Evolution made us naughty • Huxley: The ethical progress of society depends on combatting our evolutionary nature • Dawkins (in 1976): We must rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators • Williams: The products of evolution in human behavior are usually morally evil and we should avoid them Evolution made us nice • Ruse: Altruism is a human adaptation, just as our hands and eyes and teeth are • Wilson: Morality is a product of the limbic system, which has been fashioned by natural selection • evolutionary economists & group selectionists: Humans have evolved to act efficiently, which today means acting for the community good Homo maleficiens Homo pugnax Homo beneficiens Homo reciprocans Homo economicus Homo sapiens Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise and rudely great: ... He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest; In doubt to deem himself a God or Beast Alexander Pope, Essay On Man, 1732 Where does any aspect of human nature come from? Inherited tendencies Acquired understanding Evolutionary heritage x Plasticity Nonhumans? Humanity Fellow citizens Associates Kin Self? The crucible of morality: competition vs. cooperation • Competition within groups– for social status and mates (Darwin, Humphrey) • Competition between groups– associated with within-group cooperation (Darwin, Alexander) Self-service Group-service Solutions to the conflict between group and individual interests 1. Principle of stability-dependent cooperation Solutions to the conflict between group and individual interests 2. Indirect reciprocity and reputation Modifiers of morality • Insurance against sudden threats – moral absolutism – moral viscosity • Deception • Power differentials Evolution and Human Behavior 2005 Modifiers of morality • Insurance against sudden threats – moral absolutism – moral viscosity • Deception • Power differentials • Rapid cultural change – cultural surrogates for adaptation Biology and Philosophy 2002 Cultural surrogates for adaptation Moral institutions as cultural surrogates for adaptation Why do we continue to inherit ancient tendencies? 1. Continued selection Dating, business, media, fashion, sports, schools still exert selection for, e.g.: • • • • • Social intelligence Competitiveness Conformity Innovation Physical fitness Why do we continue to inherit ancient behavioral tendencies? 2. Evolutionary lag • ~100 generations of consistent natural selection = 2000 years! • Modern technology and cultural practices would have to continue for many hundreds of years to have an evolutionary effect • No genetic inheritance of acquired traits • Cultural change proceeds very quickly! Why do we continue to inherit ancient behavioral tendencies? 3. Relaxation of natural selection • Modern medical care • Modern social programs • Democratic political systems Where is right and wrong in this story? Bad Good Self-service Group-service In each of us, two natures are at war-- the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our hands lies the power to choose--what we want most to be, we are. -Robert Louis Stevenson There are multiple discrete levels of analysis of human nature • • • • Physiology (mechanical causation) Function (adaptation) Phylogeny (evolutionary history) Ontogeny (development) There are multiple discrete levels of analysis of human nature • • • • Physiology (mechanical causation) Function (adaptation) Phylogeny (evolutionary history) Ontogeny (development) • Agency (choice, morality) There are multiple discrete levels of analysis of human nature • • • • Physiology (mechanical causation) Function (adaptation) Phylogeny (evolutionary history) Ontogeny (development) • Agency (choice, morality) • Ultimate Purpose (religion) END THE EVOLUTION CULTURE WAR