Philosophy after Darwin: Classic and Contemporary Readings

by Michael Ruse (Editor)

Overview

Wittgenstein famously remarked in 1923, "Darwin's theory has no more relevance for philosophy than any other hypothesis in natural science." Yet today we are witnessing a major revival of interest in applying evolutionary approaches to philosophical problems. Philosophy after Darwin is an anthology of essential writings covering the most influential ideas about the philosophical implications of Darwinism, from the publication of On the Origin of Species to today's cutting-edge research.

Michael Ruse presents writings by leading modern thinkers and researchers--including some writings never before published--together with the most important historical documents on Darwinism and philosophy, starting with Darwin himself. Included here are Herbert Spencer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Henry Huxley, G. E. Moore, John Dewey, Konrad Lorenz, Stephen Toulmin, Karl Popper, Edward O. Wilson, Hilary Putnam, Philip Kitcher, Elliott Sober, and Peter Singer. Readers will encounter some of the staunchest critics of the evolutionary approach, such as Alvin Plantinga, as well as revealing excerpts from works like Jack London's The Call of the Wild. Ruse's comprehensive general introduction and insightful section introductions put these writings in context and explain how they relate to such fields as epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and ethics.

An invaluable anthology and sourcebook, Philosophy after Darwin traces philosophy's complicated relationship with Darwin's dangerous idea, and shows how this relationship reflects a broad movement toward a secular, more naturalistic understanding of the human experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781400831296
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	592
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Michael Ruse is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. His many books include Darwinism and Its Discontents and Darwin and Design.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Part I Epistemology after Darwin 13

The Principles of Psychology Herbert Spencer 29

The Gay Science Friedrich Nietzsche 32

The Evolution of Self-Consciousness Chauncey Wright 34

The Fixation of Belief Charles Sanders Peirce 39

Great Men, Great Thoughts, and the Environment William James 49

The Influence of Darwinism on Philosophy John Dewey 55

Part II Ethics after Darwin 63

The Descent of Man Charles Darwin 77

The Data of Ethics Herbert Spencer 103

The Challenge of Facts William Graham Sumner 113

The Gospel of Wealth Andrew Carnegie 122

Socialism Karl Pearson 128

Mutual Aid Prince Petr Kropotkin 130

Human Progress: Past and Future Alfred Russel Wallace 133

The Right to Make War Friedrich Von Bernhardi 134

The Call of the Wild Jack London 137

Principia Ethica: Naturalistic Ethics G. E. Moore 141

Evolution and Ethics Thomas Henry Huxley 152

Part III The Evolution of Ideas 155

Darwinism as a Metaphysical Research Programme Karl Popper 167

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Thomas Kuhn 176

The Evolutionary Development of Natural Science Stephen Toulmin 177

Memes and the Exploitation of Imagination Daniel C. Dennett 189

Three Challenges for the Survival of Memetics Bruce Edmonds 198

Altruism in Science: A Sociobiological Model of Cooperative Behavior among Scientists David Hull 202

Why Reason Can't Be Naturalized: Evolutionary Epistemology Hilary Putnam 217

Part IV The Evolution of Rationality 221

Kant's Doctrine of the A Priori in the Light of Contemporary Biology Konrad Lorenz 231

The View from Somewhere: A Critical Defense of Evolutionary Epistemology Michael Ruse247

How the Mind Works Steven Pinker 275

Evolution, Thinking, and Rationality Ronald De Sousa 289

The Evolutionary Argument against Naturalism: An Initial Statement of the Argument Alvin Plantinga 301

Darwin's Doubt, Calvin's Calvary Evan Fales 309

Part V Ethics and Progress 323

On Human Nature Edward O. Wilson 333

A Darwinian Left: Politics, Evolution, and Cooperation Peter Singer 343

Darwinian Conservatism Larry Arnhart 349

Moral Philosophy as Applied Science Michael Ruse Edward O. Wilson 365

Four Ways of "Biologicizing" Ethics Philip Kitcher 379

A Defense of Evolutionary Ethics Robert J. Richards 388

Part VI The Evolution of Altruism 411

The Liver and the Moral Organ Marc Hauser 423

Unto Others Elliott Sober David Sloan Wilson 433

Is Human Morality Innate? Richard Joyce 452

Game Theory in Evolutionary Biology Zach Ernst 464

Ethics and Intuitions Peter Singer 476

Evolution and Ethics: The Sociobiological Approach Michael Ruse 489

The Darwinian Moral Sense and Biblical Religion Larry Arnhart 511

Thomistic Natural Law and the Limits of Evolutionary Psychology Craig A. Boyd 522

An Evolutionary Account of Evil R. Paul Thompson 533

Falling Up: Evolution and Original Sin Gregory R. Peterson 539

Sources and Credits 549

Further Reading 553

Bibliography 561

Index 569

What People are Saying About This

Richards

Darwin's influence on philosophy is wide and deep, but not often recognized by professional philosophers, students of philosophy, or general readers. The topics dealt with in Philosophy after Darwin are likely to become even more relevant and important in the future. No other book provides so valuable an introduction, and no other scholar is better qualified to write on Darwin and philosophy than Ruse.
— Richard A. Richards, University of Alabama

Michael Bradie

A very appealing volume. Philosophy after Darwin is a very useful addition to the Darwinian literature, one that seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of the significant role that Darwin and his collaborators and successors have had in shaping both our cultural practices and our theoretical understanding of them.
— Michael Bradie, Bowling Green State University

Tim Lewens

In recent years, philosophers have had plenty to say about the relevance of evolutionary thinking to questions about knowledge, rationality, and ethics. This judiciously chosen and wide-ranging set of readings, prefaced by expert introductions from editor Michael Ruse, helps us to understand the current state of play in these debates, and also their historical roots. It is an excellent collection.
— Tim Lewens, University of Cambridge

From the Publisher

"In recent years, philosophers have had plenty to say about the relevance of evolutionary thinking to questions about knowledge, rationality, and ethics. This judiciously chosen and wide-ranging set of readings, prefaced by expert introductions from editor Michael Ruse, helps us to understand the current state of play in these debates, and also their historical roots. It is an excellent collection."—Tim Lewens, University of Cambridge

"A very appealing volume. Philosophy after Darwin is a very useful addition to the Darwinian literature, one that seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of the significant role that Darwin and his collaborators and successors have had in shaping both our cultural practices and our theoretical understanding of them."—Michael Bradie, Bowling Green State University

"An extremely useful contribution. A collection with the scope and depth of this one on the interrelationship of evolution, epistemology, and ethics has not appeared in a decade. Ruse provides a historical tour of the most influential ideas and arguments that have framed the current investigations. The newly commissioned works included here will push the debate forward."—R. Paul Thompson, University of Toronto

"Darwin's influence on philosophy is wide and deep, but not often recognized by professional philosophers, students of philosophy, or general readers. The topics dealt with in Philosophy after Darwin are likely to become even more relevant and important in the future. No other book provides so valuable an introduction, and no other scholar is better qualified to write on Darwin and philosophy than Ruse."—Richard A. Richards, University of Alabama

R. Paul Thompson

An extremely useful contribution. A collection with the scope and depth of this one on the interrelationship of evolution, epistemology, and ethics has not appeared in a decade. Ruse provides a historical tour of the most influential ideas and arguments that have framed the current investigations. The newly commissioned works included here will push the debate forward.
— R. Paul Thompson, University of Toronto

Editorial Reviews

"In recent years, philosophers have had plenty to say about the relevance of evolutionary thinking to questions about knowledge, rationality, and ethics. This judiciously chosen and wide-ranging set of readings, prefaced by expert introductions from editor Michael Ruse, helps us to understand the current state of play in these debates, and also their historical roots. It is an excellent collection."—Tim Lewens, University of Cambridge


"A very appealing volume. Philosophy after Darwin is a very useful addition to the Darwinian literature, one that seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of the significant role that Darwin and his collaborators and successors have had in shaping both our cultural practices and our theoretical understanding of them."—Michael Bradie, Bowling Green State University


"An extremely useful contribution. A collection with the scope and depth of this one on the interrelationship of evolution, epistemology, and ethics has not appeared in a decade. Ruse provides a historical tour of the most influential ideas and arguments that have framed the current investigations. The newly commissioned works included here will push the debate forward."—R. Paul Thompson, University of Toronto


"Darwin's influence on philosophy is wide and deep, but not often recognized by professional philosophers, students of philosophy, or general readers. The topics dealt with in Philosophy after Darwin are likely to become even more relevant and important in the future. No other book provides so valuable an introduction, and no other scholar is better qualified to write on Darwin and philosophy than Ruse."—Richard A. Richards, University of Alabama

From the Publisher