DOCSLIB.ORG

Moral Implications of Darwinian Evolution for Human Reference

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Moral Implications of Darwinian Evolution for Human Reference Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2006 Moral Implications of Darwinian Evolution for Human Reference Based in Christian Ethics: a Critical Analysis and Response to the "Moral Individualism" of James Rachels Stephen Bauer Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Christianity Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Evolution Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Bauer, Stephen, "Moral Implications of Darwinian Evolution for Human Reference Based in Christian Ethics: a Critical Analysis and Response to the "Moral Individualism" of James Rachels" (2006). Dissertations. 16. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/16 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF DARWINIAN EVOLUTION FOR HUMAN PREFERENCE BASED IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO THE “MORAL INDIVIDUALISM” OF JAMES RACHELS A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Stephen Bauer November 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3248152 Copyright 2006 by Bauer, Stephen All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3248152 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Copyright by Stephen Bauer 2006 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF DARWINIAN EVOLUTION FOR HUMAN PREFERENCE IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO THE “MORAL INDIVIDUALISM” OF JAMES RACHELS A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Stephen Bauer APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: } JbOTv&ljL*j H ' <?. Faculty Adviser, Director, Pn.D./Th.D. Program Miroslav M. Kis Loy E. Gane Professor o f Ethics :Z l 7 John T. Baldwin Dean, SDA Theojdgical Professor o f Theology John K. McVay R\c$K<JtrvSl YY\ - Richard M. Davidson J. N. Andrews Professor o f Old Testament LarryX. Lichtenwalter Adjunct Professor of Church Leadership ~ 7 Robert W. Evans Date approved President, Veritas Ministries International Castro Valley, CA Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF DARWINIAN EVOLUTION FOR HUMAN PREFERENCE BASED IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO THE “MORAL INDIVIDUALISM” OF JAMES RACHELS by Stephen Bauer Adviser: Miroslav Kis Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF DARWINIAN EVOLUTION FOR HUMAN PREFERENCE IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE TO THE “MORAL INDIVIDUALISM” OF JAMES RACHELS Name of researcher: Stephen Bauer Name and degree of faculty adviser: Miroslav Kis, Ph.D. Date completed: November 2006 The Topic This dissertation explores and analyzes James Rachels’s efforts to prove that Darwin’s theory of evolution has catastrophic implications for traditional Christian ethics. The Purpose The purpose of this dissertation is to explore and evaluate the question of whether or not protology affects ethics. In particular, I propose to distill the implications of evolutionary views of origins for ethics, mainly in reference to the issue of human preference over nature in ethics. I propose to disclose Rachels’s understanding of the implications of evolution on human preference (greater protections for human beings over Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. non-humans) in ethics (such as biblical-Christian ethics), and to evaluate his views on the basis of his internal consistency, and the accuracy of his use of Christian history and biblical data. The Sources In order to accomplish this purpose, many sources were consulted, starting with the works of Rachels himself. Some of the additional authors consulted include: J. V. Langmead Casserly, Richard Dawkins, Stephen J. Gould, John F. Haught, Cornelius Hunter, Jerry Korsmeyer, Andrew Linzey, John Rawls, Tom Regan, Lewis Regenstein, Michael Ruse, Richard Ryder, Peter Singer, Gerhard von Rad, Stephen Webb, Lynn White, Jr., and Benjamin Wiker. Conclusions First, James Rachels is essentially correct in his analysis of the impact of Darwinian evolution on Christian Ethics. Second, possibly Rachels’s greatest contribution is identifying Darwin’s rejection of teleology as the philosophical nerve of Darwinism. Third, Rachels correctly identifies two key pillars of human preference in Christian ethics and shows how evolution undermines each pillar. Fourth, the work o f evolutionary theologians corroborate Rachels’s assertion that any kind of theism incorporating Darwin’s theory cannot sustain a traditional Christian view of morality. Fifth, the dependence of evolutionary theologians on Process Theology undermines the grounding of God’s moral authority by limiting His foreknowledge. Sixth, Wiker is correct in his assertion that cosmology affects morality, and that changing from a biblical cosmology to a materialist one will eventually undermine Christian ethics. Seventh, I conclude that in Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Many things go into the making of a Ph.D. dissertation. This work was possible, in part, because of the upbringing I received from my parents. Father started, but did not finish college, while mother never advanced beyond highschool, yet both have been avid, life-long learners, and both placed great emphasis on education. They thoroughly infused those two characteristics in me, thus steering me in a path of discovery that has led to the pursuit of this degree. I have also been blessed with a wonderful family. My wife of twenty-five years has endured and sacrificed much so I could complete this program. My son and daughter have lived most of their lives under the shadow of "daddy's dissertation." Thus, this dissertation is dedicated to my wife, Leslie; to my children, Andrew and Heather; and to my parents, Richard and Arlyne Bauer, all of whom have given me such great support through this extended saga. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1 Background to the Problem .............................................................................. 1 Historical Summary of Evolutionary E th ic s ............................................2 Christian Moral Foundations Challenged by the Third Stage of Evolutionary E th ics..............................................5 Christian Morals and Man’s Relationship to N ature...............................5 The General Issue ................................................................................5 The Imago Dei and Man’s Relationship to Nature ........................ 6 The Work of James Rachels ...............................................................7 Problem ............................................................................................................. 8 Purpose .............................................................................................................9 Significance of This Study ............................................................................ 10 Limitations and Delimitations ......................................................................11 Methodology .................................................................................................12 II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................13 Introduction ..................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Fall 2005
    The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Fall 2005 Course Pro-Seminar on Sociological Theory (SOCI 6333) Time Tuesday, 7:15-10:00 p.m. Place North 228 Instructor David E. Pearson, Ph.D. Office South 295 Phone 882-7265 Email [email protected] Office Hours Monday-Thursday 12:05-1:30 (and by appointment) Description: During the Fall 2005 semester, SOCI 6333 examines the assumptions of neo-Darwinian theory and its relevance for sociology. The major neo-Darwinian concepts examined are three: sexual selection, kin selection, and reciprocal altruism. Format: Classes will include both lectures and discussions in which students assume primary responsibility for analyzing the week’s readings. Given this format, it is required that all readings be completed prior to the class session. Attendance: Regular class attendance is expected. More than one unexcused absence will result in a lowering of your final grade. Make-Up Policy: You are responsible for all readings and class materials missed due to absences. A grade of zero will be given when you are not present to take an examination, give a presentation, or when written work is handed in late. Make-ups and extensions will be given only in documented instances of emergency or extreme illness. Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, or any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.
    [Show full text]
  • The Natural Science Underlying Big History
    Review Article [Accepted for publication: The Scientific World Journal, v2014, 41 pages, article ID 384912; printed in June 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/384912] The Natural Science Underlying Big History Eric J. Chaisson Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA [email protected] Abstract Nature’s many varied complex systems—including galaxies, stars, planets, life, and society—are islands of order within the increasingly disordered Universe. All organized systems are subject to physical, biological or cultural evolution, which together comprise the grander interdisciplinary subject of cosmic evolution. A wealth of observational data supports the hypothesis that increasingly complex systems evolve unceasingly, uncaringly, and unpredictably from big bang to humankind. This is global history greatly extended, big history with a scientific basis, and natural history broadly portrayed across ~14 billion years of time. Human beings and our cultural inventions are not special, unique, or apart from Nature; rather, we are an integral part of a universal evolutionary process connecting all such complex systems throughout space and time. Such evolution writ large has significant potential to unify the natural sciences into a holistic understanding of who we are and whence we came. No new science (beyond frontier, non-equilibrium thermodynamics) is needed to describe cosmic evolution’s major milestones at a deep and empirical level. Quantitative models and experimental tests imply that a remarkable simplicity underlies the emergence and growth of complexity for a wide spectrum of known and diverse systems. Energy is a principal facilitator of the rising complexity of ordered systems within the expanding Universe; energy flows are as central to life and society as they are to stars and galaxies.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution and Ethics 2
    It is still disputed, however, why moral behavior extends beyond a close circle of kin and reciprocal relationships: e.g., most people think stealing from anyone is wrong, not just stealing from family and friends. For moral behavior to evolve as we understand it today, there likely had to be selective pressures that pushed people to disregard their own 1000wordphilosophy.com/2018/10/11/evolution- interests in favor of their group’s interest.[3] Exactly and-ethics/ how morality extended beyond this close circle is debated, with many theories under consideration.[4] Evolution and Ethics 2. What Should We Do? Author: Michael Klenk Suppose our ability to understand and apply moral Category: Ethics, Philosophy of Science rules, as typically understood, can be explained by Word Count: 999 natural selection. Does evolution explain which rules We often follow what are considered basic moral we should follow?[5] rules: don’t steal, don’t lie, help others when we can. Some answer, “yes!” “Greed captures the essence of But why do we follow these rules, or any rules the evolutionary spirit,” says the fictional character understood as “moral rules”? Does evolution explain Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film Wall Street: “Greed why? If so, does evolution have implications for … is good. Greed is right.”[6] which rules we should follow, and whether we genuinely know this? Gekko’s claims about what is good and right and what we ought to be comes from what he thinks we This essay explores the relations between evolution naturally are: we are greedy, so we ought to be and morality, including evolution’s potential greedy.
    [Show full text]
  • Program E-Conference Evolution, Original Sin and the Fall
    Evolution, original sin and the Fall June 22-24 2020, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO Organizers: Johan De Smedt, Helen De Cruz (Saint Louis University) Scientific committee: Johan De Smedt, Helen De Cruz (Saint Louis University), Adam Green (Azusa Pacific University) This conference will be held online. To register, please email deeptimemorality at gmail dot com by June 20. June 22 (All times are CT (Central Time Zone)) 9:50 – 10:00 Johan De Smedt and Helen De Cruz (Saint Louis University) Introduction, with review of the logistics of the conference (e.g., how participants can ask questions) 10:00 – 10:25 David Brown (Queen's University Belfast) Evolution as ontology and original sin: Is there a need for salvation? 10:25 – 10:30 Short break 10:30 – 10:40 Q and A 10:40 – 10:50 Break 10:50 – 11:15 Paul Macdonald (United States Air Force Academy) In defense of Aquinas’s Adam: Original justice, the Fall, and evolution 11:15 – 11:20 Short break 11:20 – 11:30 Q and A 11:30 – 12:30 Lunch break 12:30 – 13:10 Plenary talk: Hans Madueme (Covenant College) Sin and Evolution: A theological assessment 13:10 – 13:15 Short break 13:15 – 13:30 Q and A 13:30 – 13:40 Break 13:40 – 14:05 Walter Scott Stepanenko (John Carroll University) Evolution, the Fall, and Christian environmentalism 14:05 – 14:10 Short break 14:10 – 14:20 Q and A 14:20 – 14:30 Break 14:30 – 14:55 Janelle Aijian (Biola University) Believing in an interventionist God 14:55 – 15:00 Short break 15:00 – 15:10 Q and A End of day 1 June 23 (All times are CT (Central Time Zone)) 10:00
    [Show full text]
  • Completed Thesis
    THE UNIVERSITY OF WINCHESTER Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Human Uniqueness: Twenty-First Century Perspectives from Theology, Science and Archaeology Josephine Kiddle Bsc (Biology) MA (Religion) Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy February 2013 This Thesis has been completed as a requirement for a postgraduate research degree of the University of Winchester. The word count is: 89350 THE UNIVERSITY OF WINCHESTER ABSTRACT FOR THESIS Human Uniqueness: Twenty-First Century Perspectives from Theology, Science and Archaeology A project aiming to establish, through the three disciplines, the value of human uniqueness as an integrating factor for science with theology Josephine Kiddle Bsc (Biology) MA (Religion) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Doctor of Philosophy February 2013 The theme that underlies the thesis is the challenge presented by science, as it developed from the time of the Enlightenment through the centuries until the present day, to Christian theology. The consequent conflict of ideas is traced in respect of biological science and the traditions of Protestant Christian doctrine, together with the advances of the developing discipline of prehistoric archaeology since the early nineteenth century. The common ground from which disagreement stemmed was the existence of human beings and the uniqueness of the human species as a group amongst all other creatures. With the conflict arising from this challenge, centring on the origin and history of human uniqueness, a rift became established between the disciplines which widened as they progressed through to the twentieth century. It is this separation that the thesis takes up and endeavours to analyse in the light of the influence of advancing science on the blending of philosophical scientific ideas with the elements of Christian faith of former centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Other Moral Theories : Subjectivism, Relativism, Emotivism, Intuitionism, Etc
    INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS 30 Other Moral Theories: Subjectivism, Relativism, Emotivism, Intuitionism, etc. 1 Jan Franciszek Jacko Metaethics includes moral theories that contain assumptions which answer some metaphysical and epistemological questions about moral goods and values. The metaphysical questions (such as What are, and how do moral goods and values exist?) are about the nature and existence of moral goods and values. Epistemological questions (such as Can we know moral goods and values? If so, what are the sources of knowledge about them?) regard sources of knowledge about moral goods, values and criteria of moral evaluations.2 Assumptions of ethical subjectivism, relativism, decisionism, emotivism and intuitionism are exemplary answers to these questions. We call their answers “normative assumptions.” There are at least three good reasons to ask and answer such questions. First, without answering them, moral judgments remain ambiguous. For example, if I say, “Action X is wrong,” the judgement has several meanings. To specify its sense, I should clarify my normative assumptions. For example, I can assume metaphysical subjectivism (anti-realism) or realism in metaethics. According to the former assumption, my above judgment about X is not about reality; it is about my or someone’s opinion. In this case, the exact meaning of this judgement is: someone evaluates X as morally wrong. If I assume the counter-assumption of metaphysical realism (anti-subjectivism), I mean that it is true that X has the property of moral wrongness. Second, these assumptions are conductive to peculiar practices. To specify the practice, which follows from moral judgments, one has to determine some normative assumptions.
    [Show full text]
  • Sociobiology and the Origins of Ethics
    SOCIOBIOLOGY AND THE ORIGINS OF ETHICS JULIO MUÑOZ-RUBIO ABSTRACT. According to sociobiology, ethics is an offspring of natural selection and totally explicable through biology. According to this discipline, any indi- vidual has reproduction as its supreme life objective, and thus ethical principles are directly originated from such objective. This criterion subordinates choice to “natural” duties and eradicates the power of human free will to generate values. Sociobiology falls into the natural fallacy as it assumes that a moral “duty” derived from a particular behavior is justified by the same existence of such behavior. This paper sustains that humans are qualitative different from the rest of animals since they exist in spheres afar from strict biological ones; sociobiology subjugates human freedom to the necessity realm and build up an ideological discourse. KEY WORDS. Ethics, evolutionary theory, ideology, naturalist fallacy, sociobi- ology, survival, liberty, necessity, dearth, free will. INTRODUCTION Sociobiological theory deals with animal species that are “social”, that is, they form groups, develop a certain division of labor, and cooperate in order to survive in the struggle for existence. For this reason, these species appear from the start as if they were endowed with moral attributes. “Social” animals possess qualities comparable to human beings not only insofar they are born and die, develop, reproduce, become ill, nor since they relate to other beings of the same and even of other species, but because, as they perform all these various functions in their peculiar ways, they exhibit emotional and behavioral patterns curiously akin to those of human beings. One of the main sources of sociobiology is Darwinist theory which, upon refuting creationism and affirming the principle of continuity in the evolution of species, denies the existence of overall qualitative differences between human beings and higher animals (Darwin 1981, Part I, p.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ethics of Charles Darwin
    teorema Vol. XXVIII/2, 2009, pp. 123-133 [BIBLID 0210-1602 (2009) 28:2; pp. 123-133] ‘The Social Instincts Naturally Lead to the Golden Rule’: The Ethics of Charles Darwin John Mizzoni […] the social instincts […] with the aid of active intellectual powers and the effects of habit, naturally lead to the golden rule, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye to them likewise;” and this lies at the foundation of morality. [DARWIN, The Descent of Man (1871), p. 71] RESUMEN En The Descent of Man, Darwin discute una gran variedad de problemas éticos de manera exclusiva, dice él, desde la perspectiva de la historia natural. Intentando situar los puntos de vista de Darwin sobre la evolución y la ética dentro de las discusiones contemporáneas sobre filosofía moral reviso, en primer lugar, cómo el enfoque que Darwin hace de la evolución y la ética encaja en la metaética contemporánea, especialmente con cuatro teorías de tales como la del error, el expresi- vismo, el relativismo y el realismo. PALABRAS CLAVE: Darwin, metaética, teoría del error, expresivismo, relativismo moral, realismo moral. ABSTRACT In the The Descent of Man, Darwin discusses a wide variety of ethical issues, exclusively, he says, from the perspective of natural history. As an attempt to situate Darwin’s views on evolution and ethics into contemporary discussions of moral theory, in this paper I first look at how Darwin’s approach to evolution and ethics fits in with contemporary metaethical theory, specifically the four theories of error theory, expressivism, relativism, and realism. KEYWORDS: Darwin, metaethics, error theory, expressivism, moral relativism, moral realism.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetarianism and Virtue: Does Consequentialism Demand Too Little?
    WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository 1-2002 Vegetarianism and Virtue: Does Consequentialism Demand Too Little? Nathan Nobis University of Rochester Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/acwp_aafhh Part of the Animal Studies Commons, Other Anthropology Commons, and the Other Nutrition Commons Recommended Citation Nobis, N. (2002). Vegetarianism and Virtue: Does consequentialism Demand Too Little?. Social Theory & Practice, 28(1), 135-156. This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vegetarianism and Virtue: Does Consequentialism Demand Too Little? Nathan Nobis Department of Philosophy, University of Rochester I will argue that each of us personally ought to be a vegetarian.1 Actually, the conclusion I will attempt to defend concerns more than one's eating habits in that I will argue that we should be "vegans." Not only should we not buy and eat meat, but we should also not purchase fur coats, stoles, and hats, or leather shoes, belts, jackets, purses and wallets, furniture, car interiors, and other traditionally animal-based products for which there are readily available plant-based or synthetic alternatives. (Usually these are cheaper and work just as well, or better, anyway.) I will argue that buying and eating most eggs and dairy products are immoral as well. (Since it's much easier
    [Show full text]
  • Information Systems Theorizing Based on Evolutionary Psychology: an Interdisciplinary Review and Theory Integration Framework1
    Kock/IS Theorizing Based on Evolutionary Psychology THEORY AND REVIEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS THEORIZING BASED ON EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEW AND THEORY INTEGRATION FRAMEWORK1 By: Ned Kock on one evolutionary information systems theory—media Division of International Business and Technology naturalness theory—previously developed as an alternative to Studies media richness theory, and one non-evolutionary information Texas A&M International University systems theory, channel expansion theory. 5201 University Boulevard Laredo, TX 78041 Keywords: Information systems, evolutionary psychology, U.S.A. theory development, media richness theory, media naturalness [email protected] theory, channel expansion theory Abstract Introduction Evolutionary psychology holds great promise as one of the possible pillars on which information systems theorizing can While information systems as a distinct area of research has take place. Arguably, evolutionary psychology can provide the potential to be a reference for other disciplines, it is the key to many counterintuitive predictions of behavior reasonable to argue that information systems theorizing can toward technology, because many of the evolved instincts that benefit from fresh new insights from other fields of inquiry, influence our behavior are below our level of conscious which may in turn enhance even more the reference potential awareness; often those instincts lead to behavioral responses of information systems (Baskerville and Myers 2002). After that are not self-evident. This paper provides a discussion of all, to be influential in other disciplines, information systems information systems theorizing based on evolutionary psych- research should address problems that are perceived as rele- ology, centered on key human evolution and evolutionary vant by scholars in those disciplines and in ways that are genetics concepts and notions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reality of Moral Imperatives in Liberal Religion
    University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law 1-23-2013 The Reality of Moral Imperatives in Liberal Religion Howard Lesnick University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Jurisprudence Commons, Law and Society Commons, Public Law and Legal Theory Commons, and the Religion Law Commons Repository Citation Lesnick, Howard, "The Reality of Moral Imperatives in Liberal Religion" (2013). Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law. 339. https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship/339 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law by an authorized administrator of Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE REALITY OF MORAL IMPERATIVES IN LIBERAL RELIGION HOWARD LESNICK Fordham Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania Abstract This paper uses a classic one-liner attributed to Dostoyoevski’s Ivan Karamozov, "Without God everything is permitted," to explore some differences between what I term traditional and liberal religion. The expansive connotations and implications of Ivan’s words are grounded in the historic association of wrongfulness and punishment, and in a reaction against the late modern challenge to the inexorability of that association, whether in liberal religion or in secular moral thought. The paper argues that, with its full import understood, Ivan’s claim begs critical questions of the meaning and source of compulsion and choice, and of knowledge and belief regarding the specific content of religiously grounded moral norms.
    [Show full text]
  • “Human Being” a Moral Concept?
    QQ version – Oct. 26, 2010 Is “Human Being” a Moral Concept? Douglas MacLean Is “human being” a moral concept? I believe it is, which makes me a speciesist. Speciesism violates a moral principle of equality. Peter Singer defines it as “a prejudice or attitude of bias toward the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of other species.” He compares it to racism. My goal in this essay is to defend a speciesist attitude or outlook on morality. This defense consists in little more than sympathetically describing certain intuitions and exploring some of their implications. I have no further argument to show that this view is true or correct; in fact, I don’t know what such an argument would look like. As I see it, each side in debates about speciesism reveals different assumptions or begs different questions about the foundation of ethics. Critics of speciesism see ethics as grounded in status-conferring individual properties that generate agent-neutral reasons. The outlook I will describe is based on a conviction that ethics is inextricably tied to practices that define what it is to live a human life. The most general reasons in this conception of morality are human reasons. They are norms for creatures like us, but not necessarily for gods, intelligent aliens, or other possible agents. They are not agent-neutral. By defending a speciesist outlook on morality I do not mean to suggest that animal suffering has no moral significance. A decent human life takes seriously things like cruelty, callousness, or indifference to the natural world.
    [Show full text]