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Single Idea 22187

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / d. Biological ethics ]

Full Idea

Wilson claimed that many human behaviours, including aggression, rape, and xenophobia, had a genetic basis, and were adaptations favoured by natural selection because they enhanced the reproductive success of our ancestors.

Gist of Idea

Genetic behaviours that have enhanced human success include aggression, rape and xenophobia

Source

report of Edmund O. Wilson (Sociobiology [1975]) by Samir Okasha - Philosophy of Science: Very Short Intro (2nd ed) 7

Book Ref

Okasha,Samir: 'Philosophy of Science: very short intro (2nd ed)' [OUP 2016], p.125

A Reaction

This led to the Sociobiology Wars, when E.O. Wilson was attacked by Richard Lewontin and Stephen Jay Gould.

The 14 ideas from Edmund O. Wilson

20662 The biology of societies: kin selection, parenting, mating; status, territory, contracts [Wilson,EO]
5308 The only human purpose is that created by our genetic history [Wilson,EO]
5311 If observation goes up a level, we expect the laws of the lower level to remain in force [Wilson,EO]
5309 Beliefs are really enabling mechanisms for survival [Wilson,EO]
5310 Philosophers study the consequences of ethics instead of its origins [Wilson,EO]
5313 The rules of human decision-making converge and overlap in a 'human nature' [Wilson,EO]
5312 A child first sees objects as distinct, and later as members of groups [Wilson,EO]
5314 Cultural evolution is Lamarckian and fast, biological evolution is Darwinian and slow [Wilson,EO]
5315 Over 99 percent of human evolution has been in the hunter-gatherer phase [Wilson,EO]
5318 Pure hard-core altruism based on kin selection is the enemy of civilisation [Wilson,EO]
5316 We undermine altruism by rewarding it, but we reward it to encourage it [Wilson,EO]
5317 The actor is most convincing who believes that his performance is real [Wilson,EO]
5320 It is estimated that mankind has produced 100,000 religions [Wilson,EO]
22187 Genetic behaviours that have enhanced human success include aggression, rape and xenophobia [Wilson,EO, by Okasha]