The Evolution of Morality and Religion

ISBN-13: 9780521821926 / Angielski / Twarda / 2004 / 272 str.

Donald Broom

Opis

Donald Broom argues that morality and the central components of religion are of great value, and presents two central ideas. He asserts that morality has a biological foundation and has evolved as a consequence of natural selection, and that religions are essentially the structures supporting morality. Many philosophers and theologians write about morality and its origins without reference to biological processes such as evolution. Likewise, biologists discuss phenomena of importance to human morality and religion without taking account of the thoughts of others on these subjects.

Recenzje

'it remains an interesting question how the theist - whose religious participation stems primarily from her belief that God really does exist - will want to take Broom's important biological insights and incorporate them into her own account of how god might have provided humans with a sense of morality.' Expository Times

Spis treści

Introduction; 1. Concepts and codes of living; 2. Cooperation, altruism, reciprocal altruism; 3. Biological capabilities needed for altruism and morality; 4. Ideas about morality; 5. The origins and value of religion; 6. Other views about the origins of morality and religion; 7. Social and political consequences of this biological view of morality and religion; 8. Conclusions; Indexes.