Descent of Man
- From: "whitesickle@xxxxxxx" <whitesickle@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 01:08:15 -0500 (EST)
I just picked up Darwin's "Descent of Man" and it is mostly on sexual
selection and not on morality. I've just skimmed a little bit but thus
far it has been somewhat interesting. Chapter 5 is "On the Development
of the Intellectual and Moral Faculties during Primeval and Civilized
Times". Darwin honestly states in the beginning, "The subjects to be
discussed in this chapter are of the highest interest, but are treated
by me in an imperfect and fragmentary manner." Darwin then gives kudos
to Mr. Wallace, "Mr. Wallace, in an admirable paper before referred to,
argues that man, after he had partially acquired those intellectual and
moral faculties which distingish him from the lower animals, would have
been but little liable to bodily modifications through natural
selection or any other means." Of course, natural selection doesn't
just operate on physical externality. Darwin states, "Mr. Wallace has
with
justice insisted, in relation to the intellectual and moral faculties
of man these faculties are variable; and we have every reason to
believe that the variations tend to be inherited. Therefore, if they
were formerly of high importance to primeval man and to his ape-like
progenitors, they would have been perfected or advanced by natural
selection." Darwin acknowledges it would be interesting to trace the
development of each separate faculty from the state in which it exists
in the lower animals to that which exists in man; but neither my
ability nor knowledge permits this attempt.
Although Darwin prefaced this chapter as being fragmentary and
imperfect this does not mean what he stated should necessarily be
totally ignored. There is no question Darwin believed the social and
moral faculties were determined by natural selection and acquired
habit. He states, "Turning now to the social and moral faculties. In
order that primeval men, or the ape-like pregenitors of man, should
become social, they must have acquired the same
instinctive feelings, which impel other animals to live in a body; and
they no doubt exhibited the same general disposition. They would have
felt uneasy when separated from comrades, for whom some degree of love;
they would have warned each other of danger, and have given mutual aid
in attack or defense. All this implies some degree of sympathy,
fidelity and
courage. Such social qualities, the paramount importance of which the
lower animals is disputed by no one, were no doubt acquired by the
pregenitors of man in a similar manner, namely through natural
selection aided by inherited habit."
Darwin saw a never ending cycle of struggle between the races. He
writes, "All that we know about the savages, or may infer from their
traditions and from old monuments, the history of which is quite
forgotten by present inhabitants, show that from the remotest times
successful tribes have supplanted other tribes. Relics of extinct or
forgotten tribes have been
discovered throughout the civilized regions of the earth, on the wild
plains of America, and on the isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean.
And although the method may be somewhat different the same applies to
"civilized nations" which "At the present are everywhere supplanting
barborous nations, excepting where the climate opposes a deadly
barrier; and they succeed mainly, though not exclusively, through their
arts, which are the products of the intellect. Darwin concludes, "It is
therefore, highly probable that with mankind the intellectual faculties
have been mainly and gradually perfected through natural selection; and
this
conclusion is sufficient for our purposes."
I don't think it is highly probable that with mankind the intellectual
faculties have been mainly and gradually perfected through natural
selection. As everybody knows cultural evolution i.e. scientific,
medical, technological or what Darwin calls the Arts tremendously
outpaces our biological evolution. That was something Darwin apparently
didn't see or was inconsequential. This science and technology enabled
Europeans in many ways to successfully struggle against and wipe out
other races but the "Indians" were'nt any better off for it.
For lack of a better understanding, I think there is a basis for the
development of moral faculties during primeval and civilized times. As
Darwin states, "Turning now to the social and moral faculties. In order
that primeval men, or the ape-like pregenitors of man, should become
social, they must have acquired the same instinctive feelings, which
impel other animals to live in a body; and they no doubt exhibited the
same general disposition. They would have felt uneasy when separated
from comrades, for whom some degree of love; they would have warned
each other of danger, and have given mutual aid in attack or defense.
All this implies some degree of sympathy, fidelity and courage. Such
social qualities, the paramount importance of which the lower animals
is disputed by no one, were no doubt acquired by the pregenitors of man
in a similar manner, namely through natural selection aided by
inherited habit." I can't find the exact quote but Darwin states these
moral faculties are more important for the species than intellect. One
could state Darwin's idea about the development of moral faculties is
addressed in such disciplines as sociobiology and evolutionary
psychology. I suppose the difference here is Darwin is being a
generalist.
Have our intellectual faculties been mainly and gradually perfected
through natural selection?
Darwin thought such "intellect" supplanted barbarous nations. As he
stated, "This conclusion is sufficient for our purposes." Perhaps a
distinction should be made between our intellectual faculties which
have been gradually "perfected" through natural selection and which may
be on par with the caveman and the last three hundred years of cultural
evolution. How much expression of our "intellect" is the result of
cultural changes rather than any appreciable gradual perfection through
natural selection?
I quoted Darwin supporting eugenics and he was taken out of context.
Darwin's remarks were taken from Mr W.R. Greg and Mr. Wallace and Mr.
Galton. Darwin concludes, "The surgeon may harden himself while
performing an operation, for he knows that he is acting for the good of
the patient; but if we were to intentionally to neglect the weak and
helpless, it could only be for a contingent benefit, with an
overwhelming present evil. We must therefore bear the undoubtedly bad
effects of the weak surviving and propagating their kind." Darwin then
adds there is hope for the weak and inferior members of society not to
so freely marry.
Darwin wrote, ""Turning now to the social and moral faculties. In order
that primeval men, or the ape-like pregenitors of man, should become
social, they must have acquired the same instinctive feelings, which
impel other animals to live in a body; and they no doubt exhibited the
same general disposition. They would have felt uneasy when separated
from comrades, for whom some degree of love; they would have warned
each other of danger, and have given mutual aid in attack or defense.
All this implies some degree of sympathy, fidelity and courage. He
states, "A tribe including many members who, from possessing in a high
degree the spirit of patriotism, fidelity, obediance, courage, and
sympathy, were always ready to aid one another, and to sacrifice
themselves for the common good, would be victorious over most other
tribes; and this would be natural selection. At all times throughout
history the world tribes have supplanted other tribes; and as morality
is one important element in their success, the standard of morality and
the number of well-endowed men will thus everywhere tend to rise and
increase.
So Darwinism sees human evolution as tribes supplanting other tribes
whether it be in the America's, Pacific Islands, Europe, etc. A present
inhabitant would not be aware of this. It could occur through genocide
or by other means.
Michael Ragland
.
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