A significant number of people point to evolution as the source of morality. Here is a representative statement:
"There is a strong desire to help when we see someone in need. This desire has been developed in our brains over millions of years of evolution. This desire to help is the basis of morality."
My question is this. We know that mindless evolution doesn't "care" about the individual, only about gene survival. Evolution has created this desire to help thus sometimes sacrificing our own self interest. Shouldn't I put this desire to help to a rational test? Why ought I to allow myself to be pushed around by this irrational, evolution-designed desire? BTW, I think most people do put their initial desire to help to a rational test. And if we place a rational test on the desire, then that desire is no longer the standard. The real standard is self-interest.
2007-12-17 22:39:36 · 3 answers · asked by Matthew T 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
if survival of the species is the real reason, then forget evolution and make rational decisions based upon trying to achieve that survival.
2007-12-17 22:53:24 · update #1
The real standard is self-intrest, You hit the nail on the head with that closing statement. I 100% agree with you on everything that you said, ANYONE who would run around mindlessly believing that "helping" of all things is an evolutionary trait cultivated and harvested by us lovely humans is so.. wrong. We should all take an evaluation of our human intrest and perhaps that would make us a bit more ... HUMAN.
2007-12-17 23:25:42 · answer #1 · answered by ~{The Contessa}~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution as a source of Morality is a farce...as you reported, evolution does not care relating to the guy...that reliable want to help others does not come from evolution yet from something else interior human beings....in any different case we as human beings does not have been so prepared to kill and wreck something and all of us by out the process history... Now the place that comes from is going to be up for debate...yet evolution isn't the respond...
2016-11-03 22:42:02 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Helping someone in need shows interest in survial as a species.
2007-12-17 22:47:39 · answer #3 · answered by glennthomaswright 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋