On “Huxleys Evolution and Ethics in Sociobiological Perspective” by George C. Williams

Abstract. I concur with Williams that improving human ethics requires full consideration of the biogenetic facts; but I argue that the understanding of biogenetic facts, and of ethics also, can be improved by a fuller view of nature's mechanism for selecting what is fit, a view recently generat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Burhoe, Ralph Wendell (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Open Library of Humanities$s2024- 1988
In: Zygon
Year: 1988, Volume: 23, Issue: 4, Pages: 417-430
Further subjects:B Theology
B Morality
B Selfishness
B Natural Selection
B Human Evolution
B Altruism
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Summary:Abstract. I concur with Williams that improving human ethics requires full consideration of the biogenetic facts; but I argue that the understanding of biogenetic facts, and of ethics also, can be improved by a fuller view of nature's mechanism for selecting what is fit, a view recently generated by physical scientists. For me ethics necessarily must fit the evolved genotype, but ethics does not emerge until the rise of cultural evolution, where nature selects a culturetype symbiotic with the genotype. I outline my integrated dynamics of the relation of culturetypes to genotypes and to the laws governing physical systems. The biologist's finding that a living organism is of transient significance compared with its lines of heritage and their consequences, I argue, is constructively important for ethical and theological understanding.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1988.tb00855.x