The Similarities Between Darwin, Species And Morality, By James Rachels
Darwin
Species and morality
James Rachels seeks to amplify the ideology between morality and Darwin’s moral treatment of organisms of different species. He says that Darwin advocated for treatment of both humans and non-humans equally without discrimination. This despite his continued use of non-humans for investigative research according to his son was the resultant effect of distaste for cruelty against animals as well as slavery. Rachels explains that Darwin’s theory of morality seems to interject the traditional view of morality.
The traditional view of morality was far much inclined to the perception that human beings had more special inherent moral characteristics and the fact the being is human. Rachels forms a thesis upon Darwin’s opinion that the gradual illumination of men’s mind will disqualify the traditional view of morality as a mere fallacy. To provide a basis of the fallacy Rachels demystifies this referring to later works of Darwin: the descent of man (1871) and the expression of the emotions in man and animals (1872). The underlying explanation to this works and which Darwin wanted to elucidate …show more content…
This argument is based on more concrete facts that there are more differences and similarities between humans and non-humans. Therefore the rejection of speciesism is attributable to an historical continuing process. In the first stage traditional morality was accepted due to the general world view and acceptance. In the second stage the earth revealed not to be the Centre of the universe as such its special treatment lost meaning and Darwin sums that humans as well as animals are of the same order. Thirdly, the world view on morality having lost meaning on morality it calls for reexamination. Only will it sound firm if new support will be staged as solid morality cannot be overturned
Species and morality
James Rachels seeks to amplify the ideology between morality and Darwin’s moral treatment of organisms of different species. He says that Darwin advocated for treatment of both humans and non-humans equally without discrimination. This despite his continued use of non-humans for investigative research according to his son was the resultant effect of distaste for cruelty against animals as well as slavery. Rachels explains that Darwin’s theory of morality seems to interject the traditional view of morality.
The traditional view of morality was far much inclined to the perception that human beings had more special inherent moral characteristics and the fact the being is human. Rachels forms a thesis upon Darwin’s opinion that the gradual illumination of men’s mind will disqualify the traditional view of morality as a mere fallacy. To provide a basis of the fallacy Rachels demystifies this referring to later works of Darwin: the descent of man (1871) and the expression of the emotions in man and animals (1872). The underlying explanation to this works and which Darwin wanted to elucidate …show more content…
This argument is based on more concrete facts that there are more differences and similarities between humans and non-humans. Therefore the rejection of speciesism is attributable to an historical continuing process. In the first stage traditional morality was accepted due to the general world view and acceptance. In the second stage the earth revealed not to be the Centre of the universe as such its special treatment lost meaning and Darwin sums that humans as well as animals are of the same order. Thirdly, the world view on morality having lost meaning on morality it calls for reexamination. Only will it sound firm if new support will be staged as solid morality cannot be overturned