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Series:   Elements in the Philosophy of Biology

Evolution, Morality and the Fabric of Society

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2022

R. Paul Thompson
R. Paul Thompson
Affiliation:
University of Toronto

Summary

Recent interest in the evolution of the social contract is extended by providing a throughly naturalistic, evolutionary account of the biological underpinnings of a social contract theory of morality. This social contract theory of morality (contractevolism) provides an evolutionary justification of the primacy of a moral principle of maximisation of the opportunities for evolutionary reproductive success (ERS), where maximising opportunities does not entail an obligation on individuals to choose to maximise their ERS. From that primary principle, the moral principles of inclusion, individual sovereignty (liberty) and equality can be derived. The implications of these principles, within contractevolism, are explored through an examination of patriarchy, individual sovereignty and copulatory choices, and overpopulation and extinction. Contractevolism is grounded in evolutionary dynamics that resulted in humans and human societies. The most important behavioural consequences of evolution to contractevolism are reciprocity, cooperation, empathy, and the most important cognitive consequences are reason and behavioural modification.
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Keywords

social contractethicsmoralitysociobiologynaturalism
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in the Philosophy of Biology
Online ISBN: 9781108680752
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 19 May 2022

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