Evolution of the Moral Contract

You are cordially invited to attend the Winter 2024 Colloquium series of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, organized by Professor Chen-Pang Yeang. The IHPST Colloquium Series comprises a set of talks given by researchers on their recent or cumulative work related to the history and philosophy of science. It is one of the IHPST's major scholarly activities.

For the second talk of this semester, Professor Paul Thompson (IHPST-University of Toronto) will present “Evolution of the Moral Contract”

Please note that this is a hybrid event. You are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. To get the link please e-mail IHPST.info@utoronto.ca

Abstract:

In this talk, I develop an evolutionary justification for morality by providing a thoroughly naturalistic, evolutionary account of the biological underpinnings of a social contract theory of morality. This social contract theory of morality (contractevolism) provides an evolutionary justification of the primacy of a moral principle of maximisation of the opportunities for evolutionary reproductive success (ERS), where maximising opportunities does not entail an obligation on individuals to choose to maximise their ERS. Using that primary principle, the moral principles of inclusion, individual sovereignty (liberty) and equality can be justified. The implications of these principles, within contractevolism, are explored through an examination of patriarchy. If time permits, I will examine the implications for one of the following: individual sovereignty, copulatory choices, or overpopulation and extinction. Contractevolism is grounded in evolutionary dynamics that resulted in humans and human societies. The most important behavioural consequences of evolution to contractevolism are reciprocity, cooperation and empathy, and the most important cognitive consequences are reason and behavioural modification.