E O Wilson on Morality: Biologists In, Philosophers F/O
Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 10:50 am
Here is an interesting perspective to Morality and Ethics;
E.O. Wilson has controversial views with the priority for sociobiology to dominate on Morality.
I personally do not agree fully with Wilson, but in a small way he got it right with the Big Picture, i.e. sociobiology should be a significant addition to the discussion of morality on an interdisplinary approach together with other fields of knowledge.
My personal view is, philosophy-proper play a meta- encompassing role over all other fields of knowledge. As for morality, it should be grounded on evolutionary psychology and sociobiology and polished with philosophical reasoning.
Views?
The above exclusion as proposed by E.O. Wilson is most applicable to posters like Peter Holmes, Sculptor, FlashDangerpants and their likes whose approach to Morality are stuck with the dogmatic and unrealistic views of Philosophical Realism and Analytic Philosophy.https://www.iep.utm.edu/evol-eth/
Evolutionary ethics tries to bridge the gap between philosophy and the natural sciences by arguing that natural selection has instilled human beings with a moral sense, a disposition to be good.
If this were true, morality could be understood as a phenomenon that arises automatically during the evolution of sociable, intelligent beings and not, as theologians or philosophers might argue, as the result of divine revelation or the application of our rational faculties.
Morality would be interpreted as a useful adaptation that increases the fitness of its holders by providing a selective advantage.
This is certainly the view of Edward O. Wilson, the “father” of sociobiology, who believes that;
- “scientists and humanists should consider together the possibility that the time has come for ethics to be removed temporarily from the hands of the philosophers and biologicized” (Wilson, 1975: Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, 27).
E.O. Wilson has controversial views with the priority for sociobiology to dominate on Morality.
I personally do not agree fully with Wilson, but in a small way he got it right with the Big Picture, i.e. sociobiology should be a significant addition to the discussion of morality on an interdisplinary approach together with other fields of knowledge.
My personal view is, philosophy-proper play a meta- encompassing role over all other fields of knowledge. As for morality, it should be grounded on evolutionary psychology and sociobiology and polished with philosophical reasoning.
Views?