On the Origin of Ethics

This essay will be an exploration of Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the implications that the theory holds for the field of ethics. It will investigate the intellectual climate of Darwin’s day and discuss how his theory was received both by his fellow scientists and by the general public. It will provide a brief background of Darwin’s life leading up to his famous voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, as well as relevant biographical details from his later life. It will provide a brief history of the gene and the science of genetics and how this science has changed Darwin’s theory. The essay will also delve into the attempts of others to apply the theory of evolution to ethics and try to decide whether or not these views have any merit. It will look at examples of animal altruism and will also explore the society of the Ik (a tribe of people in northern Uganda). Finally, this essay will attempt to determine whether or not further study of biological and social evolution can be helpful to the field of ethics.