About the book
Moral thinking pervades our practical lives, but where did this way of thinking come from, and what purpose does it serve? Is it to be explained by environmental pressures on our ancestors a million years ago, or is it a cultural invention of more recent origin? In The Evolution of Morality, Richard Joyce takes up these controversial questions, finding that the evidence supports an innate basis to human morality. As a moral philosopher, Joyce is interested in whether any implications follow from this hypothesis. Might the fact that the human brain has been biologically prepared by natural selection to engage in moral judgment serve in some sense to vindicate this way of thinking—staving off the threat of moral skepticism, or even undergirding some version of moral realism? Or if morality has an adaptive explanation in genetic terms—if it is, as Joyce writes, \"just something that helped our ancestors make more babies\"—might such an explanation actually undermine morality's central role in our lives? He carefully examines both the evolutionary \"vindication of morality\" and the evolutionary \"debunking of morality,\" considering the skeptical view more seriously than have others who have treated the subject.
Interdisciplinary and combining the latest results from the empirical sciences with philosophical discussion, The Evolution of Morality is one of the few books in this area written from the perspective of moral philosophy. Concise and without technical jargon, the arguments are rigorous but accessible to readers from different academic backgrounds. Joyce discusses complex issues in plain language while advocating subtle and sometimes radical views. The Evolution of Morality lays the philosophical foundations for further research into the biological understanding of human morality.
Editions of The Evolution of Morality
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262101127
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262600729
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262252348
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262263252
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262276535
Read an Excerpt
Moral thinking pervades our practical lives, but where did this way of thinking come from, and what purpose does it serve? Is it to be explained by environmental pressures on our ancestors a million years ago, or is it a cultural invention of more recent origin? In The Evolution of Morality, Richard Joyce takes up these controversial questions, finding that the evidence supports an innate basis to human morality. As a moral philosopher, Joyce is interested in whether any implications follow from this hypothesis. Might the fact that the human brain has been biologically prepared by natural selection to engage in moral judgment serve in some sense to vindicate this way of thinking—staving off the threat of moral skepticism, or even undergirding some version of moral realism? Or if morality has an adaptive explanation in genetic terms—if it is, as Joyce writes, \"just something that helped our ancestors make more babies\"—might such an explanation actually undermine morality's central role in our lives? He carefully examines both the evolutionary \"vindication of morality\" and the evolutionary \"debunking of morality,\" considering the skeptical view more seriously than have others who have treated the subject.
Interdisciplinary and combining the latest results from the empirical sciences with philosophical discussion, The Evolution of Morality is one of the few books in this area written from the perspective of moral philosophy. Concise and without technical jargon, the arguments are rigorous but accessible to readers from different academic backgrounds. Joyce discusses complex issues in plain language while advocating subtle and sometimes radical views. The Evolution of Morality lays the philosophical foundations for further research into the biological understanding of human morality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Evolution of Morality about?
Moral thinking pervades our practical lives, but where did this way of thinking come from, and what purpose does it serve? Is it to be explained by environmental pressures on our ancestors a million years ago, or is it a cultural invention of more recent origin? In The Evolution of Morality, Richard Joyce takes up these controversial questions, finding that the evidence supports an innate basis to human morality. As a moral philosopher, Joyce is interested in whether any implications follow from this hypothesis. Might the fact that the human brain has been biologically prepared by natural selection to engage in moral judgment serve in some sense to vindicate this way of thinking—staving off the threat of moral skepticism, or even undergirding some version of moral realism? Or if morality has an adaptive explanation in genetic terms—if it is, as Joyce writes, \"just something that helped our ancestors make more babies\"—might such an explanation actually undermine morality's central role in our lives? He carefully examines both the evolutionary \"vindication of morality\" and the evolutionary \"debunking of morality,\" considering the skeptical view more seriously than have others who have treated the subject.
Interdisciplinary and combining the latest results from the empirical sciences with philosophical discussion, The Evolution of Morality is one of the few books in this area written from the perspective of moral philosophy. Concise and without technical jargon, the arguments are rigorous but accessible to readers from different academic backgrounds. Joyce discusses complex issues in plain language while advocating subtle and sometimes radical views. The Evolution of Morality lays the philosophical foundations for further research into the biological understanding of human morality.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Evolution of Morality?
Philosophy and Religion > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics and moral philosophy
Where can I read a sample of The Evolution of Morality?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262101127
Is The Evolution of Morality part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Evolution of Morality?
Richard Joyce
Who is the Publisher of the book The Evolution of Morality?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Evolution of Morality is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262101127) and paperback(ISBN 9780262600729) and ebook(ISBN 9780262252348) and ebook(ISBN 9780262263252) and ebook(ISBN 9780262276535)
Where can I buy The Evolution of Morality online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Evolution of Morality?