Topic: The problem with evolutionary ethics.
Many problems arise when studying evolutionary ethics that
cannot be reconciled when taking a logical look at its viability as a base
for knowledge and moral principles. Evolutionary ethics states that
“ethical beliefs have developed through evolution to help us survive and
reproduce.”[1] To put it another way, evolutionary ethics encompasses
the knowledge and morals needed for the survival of the human race.
Proponents of this ethic believe humans think they have duties but there
are no real obligations just an illusion of obligations for cooperation and
survival. “Morality is a corporate illusion “fobbed off on us by our genes to
get us to cooperate. We don’t have real duties, only the illusion of
them.”[2] This line of logic would suggest that value somehow sprung out
of valuelessness, it also does not allow for an all-knowing, all-loving God
that instills value and dignity into His creation. It makes logical sense that
a creation the acknowledges value and dignity in each other derived that
belief from a creator rather than a system predicated on nature and the
survival of the fittest. For this line of reasoning alone evolutionary ethics is
not compatible with belief in God as the foundation for ethics.
The biggest problem with evolutionary ethics is the belief that
humans are a product of natural evolutionary processes, that humans are
wired for survival, a material process with no value or meaning. If this is
the case how can humans trust their beliefs and moral reasoning? This
type of moral reasoning concerns itself with survival, not truth-seeking.
“Since naturalistic evolution is “interested in” surviving rather than truth-
seeking, holding many false beliefs could enhance survival”[3] Trusting in
human reasoning and moral decision making makes much more sense if
there is an intelligent creator behind the human thought process versus
the randomness of evolutionary ethics. Going back to the thought that
humans have illusions of duties that help develop their moral senses, if
this is the case where did these illusions come from? Are they part of the
randomness of evolution, and if so how can this line of reasoning be
trusted when it is merely an illusion derived from randomness in the first
place? In evolutionary ethics, the actions of humans are of no more
consequence than the actions of a goldfish. There is no real compelling
reason to be moral or live by any ethical standard. Clearly, there is a
difference between loving someone even if they cannot be of benefit
versus the impulse of hunger and needing to eat for survival. Evolutionary
ethics begin from a flawed line of thought that does not take into
consideration the entirety of the human condition. Intelligent design from
an intelligent creator takes into account the whole of human existence.
The problems with evolutionary ethics are inevitable and authors
McQuilkin and Copan do a fair and balanced job in presenting evidence to
support their claims concerning problems with the evolutionary ethical
system. Belief in God and the moral and ethical standards of the Bible are
the logical choice when considered against evolutionary ethics. Walking in
a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him is taught in Colossians
1:10 (ESV). God is love, and He commands us to love (1 John 4:19). He is
holy, and He commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15). God is merciful, and
He commands us to be merciful (Luke 6:36). He is truthful, and He
commands us not to bear false witness (Titus 1:2; Exodus 20:16).
Christian ethics takes into account the entire human condition. Christians
consider the action itself but also a person’s attitudes about the action,
the person’s motives for doing the action, and the results of the action.
Ethics taught in the Bible logically fit with and are consistent with an
intelligent design from an intelligent creator. Evolutionary ethics does not
make any logical sense and any argument for evolutionary ethics
collapses on itself under close examination. Rebecca Mclaughlin in her
book Confronting Christianity makes this point concerning Christianity and
intelligent design, “Christianity is the most widespread belief system in
the world, with the most far-reaching intellectual footprint, and a wealth of
counterintuitive wisdom concerning how humans should thrive.”[4] The
moral and ethical precepts taught in the Bible are superior to evolutionary
ethics from a logical standpoint.
Bibliography
McLaughlin, Rebecca. Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the
World’s Largest Religion. Wheaton, IN Crossway Publishers, 2019.
McQuilkin, Robertson. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the
Way of Wisdom. . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture references are taken from the ESV
Bible. n.d.
[1] Robertson McQuilkin. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the
Way of Wisdom. . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014, 180.
[2] McQuilkin, Biblical Ethics, 180.
[3] Ibid, 181.
[4] Rebecca McLaughlin. Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for
the World’s Largest Religion. Wheaton, IN Crossway Publishers, 2019, 31.
