Darwinism in metaethics: What if the universal acid cannot be contained?

Area of Science:

• Metaethics
• Evolutionary Ethics
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Darwinian metaethics explores the evolutionary origins of moral beliefs.
• Evolutionary Debunking Arguments (EDAs) question the justification of these beliefs.
• A key debate concerns an epistemic disanalogy between moral and other beliefs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of Darwinism on metaethics.
• To clarify confusion surrounding evolutionary ethics and EDAs.
• To analyze the epistemic justification of moral beliefs in light of Darwinian theory.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of significant debunking positions in metaethics.
• Assessment of epistemic disanalogies in Evolutionary Debunking Arguments.
• Evaluation of the coherence of applying evolutionary accounts to all beliefs.

Main Results:

• Existing debunking positions inadequately justify the epistemic disanalogy for moral beliefs.
• Applying evolutionary accounts universally may lead to epistemic incoherence.
• Darwinism's impact on metaethics might be broader than initially assumed.

Conclusions:

• The epistemic disanalogy in EDAs is not sufficiently justified.
• A universal application of evolutionary debunking arguments raises coherence concerns.
• Darwinism's influence on metaethics necessitates careful epistemological consideration.