A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution
Williams, Cora MayProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019
Rating 2.8- Word count
- 1.5M words
- Chapters
- 147
Tags
English Originals EthicsWestern Philosophy Ethical SystemsSocial EvolutionMoral PhilosophyEthical DebateWestern ThoughtMoral DilemmaAcademic StudyIntellectual CommentaryTheoretical ReviewEvolutionary PerspectiveSummary
Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution by WilliamsAuthor: Williams, Cora May,Language: English, Class: BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Ethics, Social usages, Etiquette, Religion, Release Date: Mar 15, 2012Editor's review
This book offers a systematic survey and critique of the relationship between evolutionary theory and ethics, a scholarly work at the intersection of ethics and philosophy. The author, Cora May Williams, examines various ethical systems grounded in evolutionary theory, discussing the tensions among the origins of morality, altruistic behavior, and natural selection. Its value lies not in advancing a single conclusion but in showing how scholars from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century used evolutionary theory to reframe the problems of moral philosophy. The prose is theoretical, with a high density of terminology and argumentation, making it suitable as supplementary material for courses in intellectual history and ethics. For contemporary readers, some of the book's scientific premises now appear outdated, yet as a text for understanding the early forms of evolutionary ethics it retains reference value. Readers are advised to read with questions in mind and to consult modern introductory works on evolutionary ethics for comparison.Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students and researchers in philosophy or ethics
- Readers interested in the intellectual history of evolutionary theory
- Instructors who need to understand the early development of evolutionary ethics
- Serious readers accustomed to theoretical argumentation and note-taking
Not a good fit for
- General readers seeking accessible popular science or light reading
- Those who want the latest conclusions of contemporary evolutionary biology
- Readers impatient with philosophical argumentation who prefer narrative writing
Reading tips
- Read a modern introduction to evolutionary ethics first to establish a framework of questions before approaching this book
- Go through the various systems the author reviews chapter by chapter and make comparison tables
- Maintain a critical awareness of the scientific premises cited in the book and mark outdated points
- Read alongside the intellectual history of the nineteenth century to understand its polemical targets and context
About the publisher
Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.
Contents
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FAQ
Is this book suitable as an introduction to philosophy?
Not really as an introductory text. This is a critical scholarly work on evolutionary ethical systems, densely argued and covering multiple theories. Without basic ethical concepts and experience in philosophical reading, one can easily get lost among the terminology and commentary. It is advisable to read an introductory textbook first and then return to this book.Are the evolutionary views in the book still valid today?
This requires a distinction. The book discusses ethical systems grounded in evolutionary theory, and its scientific premises bear the imprint of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century; some content has been revised by modern biology. But as a document in intellectual history, it still helps in understanding the early problematic and argumentative style of evolutionary ethics.What background knowledge is needed to read it?
Basic ethical concepts (such as utilitarianism and deontology), a foundation in Darwinian evolutionary theory, and a general familiarity with nineteenth-century intellectual history are recommended. Those familiar with the style of philosophical argumentation will find the reading smoother. Readers lacking this background may first supplement with relevant introductions.This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Williams, Cora May AuthorCora May Williams is an author about whom limited public information is available; only one work by her is held in the collection, A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution. Judging from the title, the book offers a review of ethical systems grounded in evolutionary theory, placing it at the intersection of ethics and evolutionary thought and suggesting a comparative survey of various moral systems. Since her birth and death dates, nationality, and educational background remain unknown, no biographical outline can be drawn, and the period and setting of her writing cannot be confirmed. On the available evidence, Williams's writing leans toward theoretical synthesis and conceptual analysis, addressed to readers interested in the foundations of ethics and the philosophical implications of evolution. The value of her work lies chiefly in its systematic organization of the relevant theories, which may serve researchers in the history of ethics and the reception of evolutionary theory.