Evolutionary ethics is a belief that ethical practice and belief are not based upon an objective
morality, rather they are a product of evolution to increase our survivability as a species.1An
example might be that most people hold to some sort of moral absolute against physically
harming young children.The evolutionary ethicist would say this “moral absolute” is simply
how our brains evolved to make us more likely to protect our children and thereby preserve
ours species.
" " "McQuilkin and Copan note several issues with this view.First, the existence of an
evolutionary process itself does not inherently mean a “god” of some sort did not
intentionally use that process to teach humanity an objective morality outside of the
process.2Second, McQuilkin and Copan argue that God’s involvement makes better sense of
human dignity.Humanity has no dignity if it is the result of “mindless, impersonal,
valueless, material forces.”3If humanity has value, does it not make more sense to say
something valuable (God) created value instead of “valuelesness” producing value?4Third,
they argue that with an evolutionary process, we cannot trust our own beliefs.What we
believe is merely a product of trying to earn survival, not trying to ascertain truth.5Much of
what might be most natural to believe may in fact not be true.If we are to trust our brains
are not deceiving us, it “makes better sense if we have been designed by a truthful, rational
God.”6Finally, evolutionary ethics has no power to prescribe how people ought to act, it
brings morality down to the same level of all other natural processes.Though it describes
behavior well for its model, it fails to create any moral “oughts.”7
" " "McQuilkin and Copan have done a fine job looking at some of the issues with
evolutionary ethics.They have taken largely an apologetic stance; as a result, they have only
defended against evolutionary ethics towards those who do not believe in God.They have
failed to note that evolutionary ethics itself is entirely incompatible with the Christian
God.For example, how ought one to live if they ultimately hold to evolutionary
ethics?Ought they not to kill the disabled and the weak to keep them from reproducing
weak genes?Ought they not take the food, money and resources of the disabled so that the
strong can be stronger and more likely to reproduce and better preserve the species?The
very nature of prioritizing survival is counter to the character of God and what he has
commanded in his law.It runs against the nature of true love, which lays its life down for its
friends (John 15:13).Additionally, if God exists, than the moral standard of the universe
rests him.It is conceivable for a god to reveal his morality through an evolutionary process,
but the morality still must ultimately be defined by God and not the process that created it.
" " "1"J Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics : Walking in the Way of Wisdom
(Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 2014), 180.
" " "2"Ibid.
" " "3"Ibid.
" " "4"Ibid.
" " "5"Ibid., 181.
" " "6"Ibid.
" " "7"Ibid.
Bibliography
McQuilkin, J Robertson, and Paul Copan."An Introduction to Biblical Ethics : Walking in the
Way of Wisdom. Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
