Evolution and Ethics, and Other Essays

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Huxley, Thomas Henry, 1825-1895

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Evolution and Ethics" by Thomas Henry Huxley is a collection of essays written in the late 19th century. The central focus of this work is the relationship between evolutionary theory and ethical principles, particularly how scientific understanding can inform moral considerations in human society. Huxley explores the implications of evolution for ethics, arguing that our moral frameworks are often at odds with the natural processes that govern life. The opening of this volume introduces the lecture on "Evolution and Ethics," which serves as a cornerstone for the discussions that follow. Huxley reflects on the complexities of navigating ethical dilemmas within the constraints imposed by modern scientific thought, emphasizing the struggle to reconcile evolutionary origins with social ethics. He sets the stage for a nuanced analysis of how the "cosmic process" influences human existence, morality, and societal structures, indicating that while ethics aim to promote cohesion and suppress conflict, they sometimes contradict the very nature of survival forged through evolution. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Evolution and ethics: prolegomena

Evolution and ethics

Science and morals

Capital, the mother of labour

Social diseases and worse remedies.

Credits:

Scanned and edited by T. Dave Gowan for Project Gutenberg

Notes:

Reading ease score: 49.9 (College-level). Difficult to read.

Release date is 2001-11-01