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Evolution and ethics viewed from within two metaphors: machine and organism
1Florida State University, 651 East Sixth Avenue, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA. mruse@fsu.edu.
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
|January 21, 2022
Summary
This study explores the connection between evolutionary theory and moral thinking. It examines two distinct frameworks: Darwin
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Moral philosophy
- History of science
Background:
- The relationship between evolutionary theorizing and moral thinking is a complex area of study.
- Historical perspectives offer valuable insights into this interdisciplinary connection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between evolutionary theorizing and moral thinking.
- To present a disinterested account of two major approaches to this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of two distinct theoretical approaches.
- Examination of foundational metaphors in evolutionary thought.
Main Results:
- Identified two primary metaphors shaping evolutionary approaches to ethics: the "machine" (Darwin) and the "organism" (Spencer).
- The paper provides a neutral overview of both perspectives.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the metaphorical underpinnings of evolutionary theory is crucial for analyzing its relationship with ethics.
- Both machine and organism metaphors offer distinct lenses for examining the evolution of morality.
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