Dear Richard Twine,
There is, I think, another reason to be cautious in approaching E O
Wilson's piece on the biological basis of morality, which is that he
presents debatable ideas as if they are "self evident truths".
Although it may be plausible to suggest that aspects of moral
behaviour derive from "mammalian genetic programs" this does not
mean that one may reasonably make the leap to suggest that there is a
simple biological basis for all moral instincts. This conclusion
is too sweeping. Also in the article to which Steven Bissell
refers Wilson commences by contrasting ethical principles as either
independent of human experience or human inventions. To present the
sources of ethics in this simplistic dichotomy is to construct a
straw man. It certainly does little justice to two and a half
millenia of thought about ethics. Perhaps in his book on
Consilience Wilson argues his case with greater precision but but the
article does not encourage one to approach Inter Library Loan for a
copy.
Hugh
Subject: Socio-biology
From: Richard Twine <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
I don't trust much that comes from sociobiologists, there is an
'evolutionary' line between eugenic discourse and socio-biology. I'm a
firm believer in closer ties between subjects such as biology and
sociology, but not one's as sociologically ignorant as socio-biology.
It's worth remembering that both the UK and US eugenics societies still
exist, albeit under different names. Does anybody know why EO Wilson is
on the Environmental Ethics editorial board? That has always intrigued
me. I guess his insect work might be good but I haven't read it. But
Sociobiology has consistently reproduced racism/sexism.....
my 2p,
richard
Steven Bissell wrote:
> I tried to post this earlier, but couldn't find it. Anyway, E. O.
> Wilson, as always, is very interesting. This topic was debated in the
> literature several years ago with most coming down on the side that
> morality was *not* an evolutionary trait. Wilson herein presents some
> new ideas about why it might be an evolved behavior. Steven J. Bissell
>
> http://www.du.edu/~sbissell
> http://www.responsivemanagement.comOur human ecology is that of a rare
> species of mammal
> in a social, omnivorous niche. Our demography is one of
> a slow-breeding, large, intelligent primate.
> To shatter our population structure, to become abundant
> in the way of rodents, not only destroys our ecological
> relations with the rest of nature, it sets the stage
> for our mass insanity.
> Paul Shepard
>
> http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/98apr/biomoral.htm
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