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Durham E-Theses Durham E-Theses NURTURING ALTRUISM: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIOBIOLOGY FOR WESLEYAN ETHICS HILL, MATTHEW,NELSON How to cite: HILL, MATTHEW,NELSON (2013) NURTURING ALTRUISM: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIOBIOLOGY FOR WESLEYAN ETHICS, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/8491/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 NURTURING ALTRUISM: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIOBIOLOGY FOR WESLEYAN ETHICS MATTHEW NELSON HILL A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN TOTAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION DURHAM UNIVERSITY 2013 Abstract Matthew Nelson Hill Nurturing Altruism: The Significance of Sociobiology for Wesleyan Ethics This thesis examines the significance of sociobiology within Wesleyan ethics. In addition to investigating how sociobiological altruism connects to Wesleyan holiness, it argues that John Wesley capitalized on the biological and environmental constraints on human action, creating a particular setting that nurtured altruism in his followers through the cultivation of holiness. Of the main chapters, Chapter 2 helps the reader understand basic and current sociobiological explanations of altruistic behavior—a behavior that has been a stumbling block for evolutionary theorists who have attempted, unsuccessfully, to explain why or how it exists. To address the presence of altruism among humans, this chapter elucidates kin selection theory, group selection theory (also called multilevel selection theory), and game theory, seeking to provide clarification of current research within the field of sociobiology. Chapter 3 offers a critique of the sociobiological explanations of altruism and examines the inability of sociobiology to adequately explain altruism while providing evidence for the reductionist tendencies of prominent sociobiologists such as E. O. Wilson and Richard Dawkins. Chapter 4 introduces how the biological and environmental constraints on human behavior influence where individuals are located on the selfish/selfless spectrum. Although all humans are influenced by some internal and external constraints, they still have the unique capacity to freely move on that continuum. This chapter paves the way for a discussion of John Wesley’s environmental constraints. Chapter 5, then, focuses on Wesley and the connection between the sociobiological understanding of altruism in regards to his theological understanding of both original sin and Christian perfection. In order to fully account for Wesley’s unique bands and classes (those groups that provided a system through which Wesley encouraged altruism by way of social holiness), it is necessary to work through his underlying theological presuppositions. To this end, the last major chapter, Chapter 6, further unpacks John Wesley’s ideas, illustrating how his understanding of holiness and Christian perfection led him to develop a complete system of checks and balances—which this thesis calls his “world of constraints”—that created an environment whereby individuals were much more likely to move toward the altruistic side of the selfish/selfless spectrum. Therefore, this thesis argues that, within a community concerned with Christian perfection, an individual can develop a virtuous character that encourages the overcoming of genetic constraints. 2 Table of Contents DeclArAtion And Copyright 7 Acknowledgments 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 13 1.1 Introduction to Thesis 13 1.2 Brief Summary of Main Chapters 17 1.3 What is At Stake? 28 1.4 Brief Clarifications Before Main Chapters 30 Chapter 2: Sociobiological Explanations of Altruism 37 2.1 An Introduction to Biological Altruism 37 2.1.1 Darwinian History 39 2.1.2 Kin Preference and Reciprocal Altruism 43 2.1.2.1 Kin Altruism 46 2.1.2.2 Reciprocal Altruism and Game Theory 49 2.2 Sociobiological Altruism: From Darwin to Dawkins 59 2.3 Moving Forward 69 Chapter 3: Altruism and the Explanatory Limitations of Sociobiology 70 3.1 Introduction 70 3.2 The Environment and its Influence on Human Behavior 72 3.2.1 Everything from Onething: Genetic and Memetic Units 76 3 3.3 Problematic Language 82 3.4 Reductionism and its Relationship to the Explanation of Altruism 87 3.4.1 The Inability of Sociobiology to Explain Altruism Without Reduction 90 3.5 A Reductionist Driven False Opposition Between Philosophy/Theology and Sociobiology 103 3.5.1 Moralizing Out of the Bounds of Science 110 3.5.2 Avoiding the Naturalistic Fallacy 114 3.6 Conclusion 121 Chapter 4: Overcoming Genetic and Environmental Constraints on Altruism 126 4.1 Introduction 126 4.2 The Determined Human Person? 128 4.3 The Human Person as Influenced but not Determined 139 4.4 Humans are Genuinely Free and Consequently Responsible 142 4.4.1 Free to Overcome Constraints 149 4.5 Conclusion 162 Chapter 5: Wesleyan Perfection Against a Backdrop of Sociobiology 164 5.1 Introduction 164 5.2 The Quest for Holiness 166 5.2.1 Motivations and Theological Underpinnings 169 4 5.2.1.1 Wesley’s Understanding of Original Sin 172 5.2.1.2 Wesley’s Understanding of Perfection 178 5.2.1.2.1 Christian Perfection by way of Theosis 181 5.2.1.3 A Spiritual Component 188 5.3 Genetic Selfishness and its Implications for Wesleyan Ethics 191 5.3.1 The Significant Role of Theosis 201 5.4 Conclusions 206 Chapter 6: How Wesleyan Nurtured Altruism Despite Biological Constraints 209 6.1 Introduction 209 6.1.1 Unwittingly Capitalizing on a Natural Phenomenon 211 6.2 Wesley’s Structure and Organization 213 6.2.1 Wesley’s Highly Structured Groups 217 6.2.2 Accountability Structure Within Wesley’s Groups 225 6.2.3 Wesley’s World of Constraints 228 6.3 How Wesley Understood and Nurtured Altruism by Way of Holiness 236 6.3.1 How Holiness Mitigated Egoism 239 6.4 Environmental Constraints that Temper Biological Constraints 241 6.5 Conclusions 243 Chapter 7: Conclusions 246 7.1 Introduction 246 7.2 Brief Summary of Main Chapters 249 5 7.3 Practical Implications and Further Explorations 254 7.4 Conclusion 260 Appendix I 262 Appendix II 265 Appendix II 268 BibliogrAphy 272 6 Declaration and Copyright “No part of this thesis has previously been submitted by me for a degree in this or in any other University. Material from the work of others has been acknowledged and quotations and paraphrases suitably indicated.” “The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any format, including electric and the Internet, without the author’s prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged appropriately.” Matthew N. Hill © 2013 7 Acknowledgements At the end of any significant sacrifice there are inevitable feelings of relief, accomplishment, and dependency. So it is for me with this thesis. Relief and accomplishment speak for themselves but dependency might warrant some explaining. Through this PhD process I have often felt a sense of reliance on others: academic guidance, personal mentoring, emotional support, and the like. Yet despite the stretching process of achieving a terminal degree, I have realized that if I desire to be a person of sacrifice—especially for the greater good of the Church and the academy—I will have life-long dependencies. If writing this thesis has taught me anything, I have realized that I cannot do life on my own. This reliance is both the joy and burden of living in community and my realization that we are all contingent on each other. For these reasons, I desire to thank the following individuals who have helped me through this journey. First, I would like to thank Professor Robert Song. His guidance and direction was beyond what I could have asked for. He introduced me to a complex field with patience and grace. With every conversation we had, I walked away truly amazed at his unique perspective and intelligence. I am also grateful to Professor Song for changing the way I think and for changing who I am. I am forever indebted to him for this. Next, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my friends and colleagues who graciously read early drafts of my thesis. I want to especially thank Ken Brewer and Robert Moore-Jumonville who encouraged me to present 8 and publish my research through various venues and critiqued my chapters on John Wesley’s theology. Darrell Moore’s Wesley Study Group has also been immensely helpful, and I appreciate his kindness and mentoring. I am also thankful to various editors that read through early portions of my thesis: my sister-in-law Diana Smith who labored with me in those early stages as well as Marie Slisher and Anna Tabone who helped me in a pinch. I am significantly indebted to my friend Jack Baker who tirelessly worked through my entire thesis. Jack is truly one of the most gifted writers I know. Over the last several months he had the unique ability not only to make my writing better, but to teach and guide me in the writing process while encouraging me to relax and continue on. I also want to thank Spring Arbor University for giving me a reduced teaching load for two years while I finished my PhD.
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