Biology and the Foundations of Ethics
Part of Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Biology
- Editors:
- Jane Maienschein, Arizona State University
- Michael Ruse, Florida State University
- Date Published: July 1999
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521559232
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook
Looking for an inspection copy?
Please email [email protected] to enquire about an inspection copy of this book
-
There has been much attention devoted in recent years to the question of whether our moral principles can be related to our biological nature. This collection of essays focuses on the connection between biology, in particular evolutionary biology, and foundational questions in ethics. The book asks such questions as whether humans are innately selfish, and whether there are particular facets of human nature that bear directly on social practices. The volume is organised historically beginning with Aristotle and covering such major figures as Hume and Darwin down to the present and the work of Harvard sociobiologist, E. O. Wilson. This is the first book to offer this historical perspective on the relation of biology and ethics, and has been written by some of the leading figures in the history and philosophy of science, whose work stands very much at the cutting edge of these disciplines.
Read more- The first book to offer a historical perspective on the hot topic of the relationship of biology and ethics
- First-class team of contributors
- All new essays specially commissioned for this volume
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: July 1999
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521559232
- length: 346 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 153 x 21 mm
- weight: 0.485kg
- contains: 1 b/w illus.
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Introduction Michael Ruse and Jane Maienschein
1. Aristotle on the biological roots of virtue: the natural history of natural virtue James G. Lennox
2. The moral status of animals in the eighteenth century British philosophy Michael Bradie
3. From natural to evolutionary ethics Phillip Sloan
4. French evolutionary ethics during the Third Republic Paul Farber
5. The state and nature of unity and freedom Myles Jackson
6. Darwin's Romantic biology, the foundation of his evolutionary ethics Robert J. Richards
7. Nietzsche and Darwin Jean Gayon
8. Evolutionary ethics in the twentieth century: Julian Sorrel Huxley and George Gaylord Simpson Michael Ruse
9. The laws of inheritance and the rules of morality: early geneticists on evolution and ethics Marga Vicedo
10. Scientific responsibility and political context: the case of genetics under the Swastika Diane Paul and Raphael Falk
11. The case against revolutionary ethics today Peter Woolcock
12. Biology and value theory Robert J. McShea and Daniel McShea.
Related Books
also by this author
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×