Did Darwin Kill Morality?

May 1
15 mins

Episode Description

According to some philosophers Darwinian evolution offers us an explanation for our moral judgements that does not rest on moral truth and thus undermines our reason to trust those judgements. In this Darwin threatens morality. This episode of the P-Value introduces the idea of evolutionary debunking. What does the debunker's challenge entail? And, should we be persuaded by it?


Key References: 

  • Ruse (1986) Evolutionary Ethics: A Pheonix Arisen. Zygon, 21(1):95-112.
  • Street (2006) "Darwinian Dilemma for Realist Theories of Value" Philosophical Studies, 127(1): 109-166.
  • "Evolutionary AntiRealism - Early Efforts" from James, Scott M. (2011) An introduction to evolutionary ethics. Wiley Blackwell Oxford.


Note: This episode is based on a transcription of an original lecture of the same name by Dr. Rachael Brown. That material was adapted into a format suitable for podcast delivery with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI).

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