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- Title
SCIENTIFIC IMPERIALISM AND BEHAVIORIST EPISTEMOLOGY.
- Authors
Staddon, J. E. R.
- Abstract
E.O. Wilson and B.F. Skinner have argued for an evolutionary ethics that allows what ought to be to be derived from what is--ethics from science. Evolution is inherently unpredictable, however, and some practices whose benefits cannot be proved might nevertheless turn out to be good for the survival of a culture or the race. Other practices that seem to be good might turn out to be bad. Consequently, the evolutionary argument implies that a successful culture will believe some things that cannot be proved, and it tells us that we cannot know in advance what those things will be.
- Subjects
ETHICS; SCIENCE &; ethics; EVOLUTIONARY theories; PHILOSOPHY; CULTURE; RACE
- Publication
Behavior & Philosophy, 2004, Vol 32, Issue 1, p231
- ISSN
1053-8348
- Publication type
Article