Of the four reasons for rejecting Evolutionary Ethics I believe that the
fourth problem is the most important. The fourth reason for rejection is
the most compelling to me because it centers on the origin of belief and
morality. The text states that, “Naturalism can only describe how humans
actually do function or behave, not prescribe how they ought to
act.”[1]This means that Evolutionary Ethics is rejected because it does
not provide a source for the standard in which we as humans should
behave. Without a source mankind cannot be bound to a standard
because there is nothing to compare it to.
It is my belief that McQuilkin and Copan present a very strong case that
works to reject the Evolutionary Ethics theory. Each problem McQuilkin
and Copan used to reject Evolutionary Ethics is centered around
understanding the origin of moral decisions. The case they presented in
the reading showed repeatedly that the Evolutionary Ethics standpoint
should be rejected because it leans on a non-rational foundation. For
example, the second reason for rejection is because the viewpoint states
that we should trust our beliefs because evolution has helped us develop
them in order to survive.[2]To challenge this belief McQuilkin and Copan
made an interesting point about how survival beliefs can be skewed to fit
personal gain rather than what is actually morally correct. This then brings
up the point made by the authors that in order for this idea to be true
there would need to be an assumption that our minds are inherently good
and will not deceive us. Therefore, there must be a rational God in which
ethics is originated.[3]
I believe that evolutionary ethics as a conceptual idea is compatible with
the Bible but merely as a support for biblical teachings. I stand by this
viewpoint because it is to my understanding that the knowledge mankind
has possessed overtime has evolved to help mankind survive and
reproduce. This is seen from the beginning to the end of the Bible
especially amongst superiors passing on wisdom and knowledge to their
subordinates that allows them to reach a new group of people. So in a
way the very idea and spread of Christianity relates closely to
evolutionary ethics because Christianity is a way of life that pushes people
to live righteously (ethically).
[1]J. Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan,An Introduction to Biblical
Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom(Downers Grove, IL: IVP, an imprint
of InterVarsity Press, 2014).
[2]Ibid., 181
[3]ibid.,181
