Monday, April 23, 2018

Evolutionism and Morality

There have been a variety of Moral doctrines, serving a variety of purposes, Theological, Political, Psychological, etc.  But one feature that they tend to have in common is the overcoming, if not suppression, of a 'lower' part of a person by a 'higher' part.  Furthermore while there are differing interpretations of the higher--Reason, divine spirit, etc.--there is general consensus that the lower part is 'animal', which, implies, conversely, that animals lack the capacity for Morality.  However, by conceiving the animal-human relation as not opposed, but as less complex-more complex, Evolutionism rejects the usually antagonistic hierarchical concept.  Instead, it implies the possibility that humans uniquely have Morality for the same reason that they uniquely wear clothes--as a supplement to natural characteristics.  That is, just as the human skin is not sufficiently protective, human instinct does not suffice for the promotion of the best interests of the Species via its Members.  Accordingly the relation of Morality to the instinctual behavior of humans is an extending, not an overcoming.  So, one of the consequences of Evolution is that is renders the grounds of traditional Morality obsolete.

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