Rachels' book "Created from Animals" was originally published in 1990.
However, it could be that he is putting out a newer edition. It is an
interesting book. Briefly, Rachels thinks that Darwin's discoveries are quite
important for morality (as opposed to someone like Jerry Fodor, who believes
that Darwin provides nothing in the way of a solution for philosophical
problems). Rachels proposes replacing what he calls the doctrine of human
dignity--a doctrine which is supported by the twin claims that man is made in
the image of God and is uniquely rational--with a doctrine of moral
individualism. Moral individualism, on his view, holds that humans have no
special moral standing simply in virtue of being human. Thus, human life is
devalued, in a moral sense, while non-human life increases in moral value.
Now there is more to his view than this, but as I sit here and think about it,
his position in this book strikes me as elaborating several ideas Peter Singer
set forth in his article "All Animals are Equal"--which I think was culled
from his book Animal Liberation.
Rachels is a good writer in a stylistic sense, and a pretty good teacher as
well, as I had a couple of classes under him at UAB a few years back.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
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happening. Evolutionary everything (biology, ethics, psychology,
epistemology, etc) is hot. whether it is just a fad, or a revolution remains
to be seen. My tentative vote is for revolution.
Have you read Axelrod's Evolution of Cooperation? (published 1985 -- it's
been out a while, but one of my favorite books.
I'm waiting for two forthcoming books on evolutionary ethics: Created
from Animals : The Moral Implications of Darwinism By: James Rachels and
Biology and the Foundation of Ethics (Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and
Biology) By: Michael Ruse (Editor), Jane Maienschein (Editor)
I've never read Rachels so I don't know what tack he will take. I've
thoroughly enjoyed everything I have read by Ruse.
Bissell says;
Glad I asked. Any other suggestions? I've also always found anything by
Ruse of use and good reading
Bissell
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