Topic: The problem with evolutionary ethics.
d d d d d d d d d d 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.
d d d d d d d d d d 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.
d d d d d d d d d d d 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.
