If morals come from evolution...?

Question

...then is anything that promotes survival and reproduction morally righteous? Why or why not?


((apologies, accidently deleted this last time))

Answer 1

Of course not. Saying that morals derive from evolution just means that certain instinctual human tendencies that give rise to what we call morality are the result of evolution, not that whatever promotes survival and reproduction is moral.

Your question is like asking "If the human eye comes from evolution then is anything that promotes survival and reproduction visible to the human eye?"

Answer 2

hmm ...

I don't agree that morals come from evolution, and I would have to ask you to define your terms before I could say whether I agree with you or not.

"... promotes survival ..."
Survival of what: the individual, the family, the tribe, the species?

Not much good being the last dodo on the planet. Once your dead the species is extinct. For the species to survive, there has to be at least one mating pair, and preferably many more than that.

"... promotes ... reproduction ..."
Not much point to that unless the offspring survive until they can reproduce. Simple copulation does not accomplish this. Thus there is an investment in the well-being of family members and a willingness to die to save the younger members of the family.

For the species to survive, some individuals may need to die defending other members of the species.

There are too many "right answers" because of the vagueness of your question.

Answer 3

no not anything and not for everyone.
what is morally righteous differs ffrom person to person
watching porn movies promotes reproduction but is not considered by everyone as morally righteous.

i think the statement is too general. it is like saying watching football is fun.

Answer 4

Yes.

But not just for the individual.

Morals are memes. They evolve and result in societies.

Morals are there for the survival of the society, not just the individual.


Look at the history of slavery. When has it been moral? When has it been immoral? Consider what society needed at those times.

Answer 5

"Simon T" comes closest to what we've been able to determine. Social beings have necessarily evolved behavioral norms appropriate to social existence.

As to the folks who would assure us that "morality" ways born from this or that bit of primitive scribbling, can their ignorance be so huge? Is their pretense that there is no morality in non-Abrahamic societies? I can't decide whether this is pathetic or some incredible hubris.

Answer 6

Obviously not -- rape can potentially result in conception, but no moral society would condone it.

Morality has to do with the prevention (or at the very least, the mitigation) of harm to those within your tribe. That it results in increasing one's chances of survival and of passing on one's genes is just a beneficial side effect.

Answer 7

Morals do not come from evolution.

This is a philosophical discussion not a scientific one. In fact, morals are not a scientific facts or theories. Applying the scientific method to philosophy yield no answers, since philosophy can not be express in scientific terms.

Answer 8

They do not.But,regardless of what rationalizations the evolutionists give you,they are stuck with moral relativism.They will never admit it because if they did,it would be clear that nothing is wrong in the final analysis,from their philosophical standpoint.

Answer 9

What genius passed on this bit of fabulousity to you?

Morals come from evolution? Oh dear oh dear.

Answer 10

Anything that promotes survival, yes.
Anything that promotes reproduction, no.
They are NOT the same thing.