Evolution, Morality and Human Potential

Abstract

(from the chapter) In the minds of many people, the theory of evolution seems to threaten the fabric of human life. Sophisticated evolutionary biologists tend to smile at the naivete of the question, if we are mere beasts, what is to prevent us from behaving in a bestial fashion? They know that the real theory of evolution can explain benign behaviors such as cooperation in addition to despicable behaviors such as rape. Even the newest research and theory provokes an allergic reaction. Two major issues impede the acceptance of the theory of evolution: (1) morality, and (2) human potential. These differences of opinion reveal that evolutionary biologists themselves disagree on the very same issues that trouble the newcomer to evolution. Before we can progress on the questions of morality and human potential, we must understand the nature of the discord among evolutionary biologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2003 APA, all rights reserved)