Evolution and Moral Ecology

Evolution and Moral Ecology Timothy Dean A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities and Languages Department of Philosophy University of New South Wales September 2014 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Dean First name: Timothy Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Humanities and Languages Faculty: Philosophy Title: Evolution and Moral Ecology Abstract Moral diversity is often dismissed as being something to explain away en route to discovering the correct answers to moral questions, particularly by those who adopt a realist metaethical perspe ctive. In this thesis I argue that moral diversity is actually far more interesting than this perspective might suggest, and that understanding the causes and dynamics of moral diversity can tell us something about the nature of morality itself. I draw on the tools of evolutionary biology, game theory and moral psychology to give an account of the existence and variation of moral and norms, and how they change over time. I argue that morality can be seen as a kind of cultural technology, the function of whi ch is to help solve the problems of social living in order to facilitate prosocial and cooperative behaviour. However, the optimal solutions to the problems of social living depend on the state of the physical and social environments in which those solutio ns operate. As such, few, if any, norms or attitudes optimally satisfy the function of morality in every environment. Furthermore, the existence of other norms or attitudes within an environment effectively alters that environment such as to impact the suc cess of other norms and attitudes, introducing another element of dynamism to moral systems. I call this phenomenon “moral ecology.” I also argue that these dynamics have influenced the evolution of our moral psychology, introducing another source of diver sity into moral attitudes. This picture of morality suggests that moral diversity is not just an artefact of ignorance, error or bias but is a by-product of the inherent complexity of social living in a wide range of physical and social environments. Decl aration relating to disposition of project thesis/d issertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all for ms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). …………….....……………..… …………… .....……………..… ……… …02-12-2014 …....... … Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restric tion may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: Acknowledgements Only one name is attached to a thesis, but it takes many people to bring it into being. So I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has advised and guided me in the production of this work, particularly to my supervisor, Stephen Cohen, and co-supervisor Robert Brooks, along with my former co-supervisors David McKnight and Peter Slezak. Your guidance has been invaluable and your tolerance of a discipline-bending thesis has been nothing short of heroic. I would also like to offer special thanks to John Wilkins, who suggested the term “moral ecology” to capture the thrust of my core idea even while it was still taking shape. There are also many who have aided me through fruitful conversation and/or debate on a wide range of related topics, including Kim Sterelny, Paul Griffiths, Mike Manefield, Ben Fraser, Matt Hammerton, Tibor Molnar, Alkistis Elliott-Graves and my many postgraduate friends and colleagues at the University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and Australian National University. A special thanks goes to David Kidd, who has long been a dear friend, patient sounding board and an insightful advisor. I would also like to thank my friends and family, who have been nothing but supportive throughout this journey. I’d particularly like to acknowledge my mother, Diana, and father, Alan, for nurturing my curiosity since childhood with a rich environment of enquiry, wonder and love. A special mention goes to Stuart Maynard and Maynard’s Café in Newtown, where most of the words in this thesis were written. And a singular thanks goes to my brilliant and beautiful partner, Signe, not only for undertaking the mammoth task of editing this thesis, but for many years of insightful advice and loving support. This thesis could not have been completed without you. Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... v Chapter 1: Introduction 1.0: The light of evolution .............................................................................................. 1 1.1: Morality outside-in .................................................................................................. 2 1.2: Explaining diversity ................................................................................................ 6 1.3: Moral functionalism ................................................................................................ 7 1.4 : Moral ecology ......................................................................................................... 9 1.5: Evolution and moral psychology ......................................................................... 10 1.6 : Moral ecology and ethics ................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Moral Diversity 2.0: Diversity and disagreement ............................................................................................ 15 2.1: Inter-cultural diversity ...................................................................................................... 17 2.2: Temporal diversity .............................................................................................................. 19 2.3: Intra-cultural diversity ...................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3: Moral Tension 3.0: Remarkable diversity ......................................................................................................... 23 3.1: Moral realism ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1: Moral disagreements ...................................................................................................... 28 3.1.2: Fundamental moral disagreement ........................................................................... 28 3.1.3: Convergentism .................................................................................................................. 30 3.1.4: Divergentism ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.5: Bloomfield’s divergentism ........................................................................................... 36 3.2: Moral subjectivism .............................................................................................................. 38 3.3: Moral relativism ................................................................................................................... 41 3.4: Subjectivity and inescapability ...................................................................................... 44 3.5: Best explanation ................................................................................................................... 45 Chapter 4: Morality Inside-out 4.0: Moral phenomena ................................................................................................................ 49 4.1: Social nature ........................................................................................................................... 49 4.2: Cultural nature ...................................................................................................................... 51 4.3: Morality inside-out .............................................................................................................. 52 4.4: Morality outside-in .............................................................................................................. 55 4.4.1: Ultimate and proximate interests ............................................................................. 57 4.5: Moral phenomena ................................................................................................................ 60 Chapter 5: The Moral Domain 5.0: From cooperation to morality ........................................................................................ 63 5.1: The moral domain inside-out ........................................................................................

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