TY - BOOK

T1 - The expanding circle

T2 - Ethics, evolution, and moral progress

AU - Singer, Peter

PY - 2011/4/18

Y1 - 2011/4/18

N2 - What is ethics. Where do moral standards come from? Are they based on emotions, reason, or some innate sense of right and wrong? For many scientists, the key lies entirely in biology--especially in Darwinian theories of evolution and self-preservation. But if evolution is a struggle for survival, why are we still capable of altruism?In his classic studyThe Expanding Circle, Peter Singer argues that altruism began as a genetically based drive to protect one's kin and community members but has developed into a consciously chosen ethic with an expanding circle of moral concern. Drawing on philosophy and evolutionary psychology, he demonstrates that human ethics cannot be explained by biology alone. Rather, it is our capacity for reasoning that makes moral progress possible. In a new afterword, Singer takes stock of his argument in light of recent research on the evolution of morality.

AB - What is ethics. Where do moral standards come from? Are they based on emotions, reason, or some innate sense of right and wrong? For many scientists, the key lies entirely in biology--especially in Darwinian theories of evolution and self-preservation. But if evolution is a struggle for survival, why are we still capable of altruism?In his classic studyThe Expanding Circle, Peter Singer argues that altruism began as a genetically based drive to protect one's kin and community members but has developed into a consciously chosen ethic with an expanding circle of moral concern. Drawing on philosophy and evolutionary psychology, he demonstrates that human ethics cannot be explained by biology alone. Rather, it is our capacity for reasoning that makes moral progress possible. In a new afterword, Singer takes stock of his argument in light of recent research on the evolution of morality.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053181796&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053181796&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Book

AN - SCOPUS:80053181796

SN - 9780691150697

BT - The expanding circle

PB - Princeton University Press

ER -