The Evolution of Morality and Religion

An interdisciplinary treatment of the evolution of morality and religion, drawing from biology, philosophy and theology.

Autorentext

Donald M. Broom is Colleen Macleod Professor of Animal Welfare in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge.

Zusammenfassung
In this book, biologist Donald Broom argues that morality and the central components of religion are of great value, and presents two central ideas: that morality has a biological foundation and has evolved as a consequence of natural selection, and secondly, that religions are essentially structures underpinning morality.

Inhalt

Introduction; 1. Concepts and codes of living; 2. Cooperation, altruism, reciprocal altruism; 3. Biological capabilities needed for altruism and morality; 4. Ideas about morality; 5. The origins and value of religion; 6. Other views about the origins of morality and religion; 7. Social and political consequences of this biological view of morality and religion; 8. Conclusions; Indexes.