The annual Dunbar Lecture in Philosophy at Millsaps College will feature the address “Can Evolution Explain Morality? Or is it Dog Eat Dog All the Way Down?” by Michael Ruse, an internationally recognized expert on the history, philosophy and social impact of evolutionary theory. The free program will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 18, in the Ford Academic Complex.
Ruse will discuss whether or not evolutionary theory can explain human morality, detail the history of the biological research into morality, and explain and assess the various interpretations given to it. Numerous recent books and articles have argued that human morality and our very moral sense can be attributed to the same evolutionary processes that produced our bodies and social natures. Some champion this approach to morality by claiming it proves that morality is real and objective. Others say this shows morality is only a relative species adaptation and has no universal validity.
Ruse is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University in Tallahassee. He is the author of Darwin and Design: Does Evolution Have a Purpose? and is the founder of the journal Biology and Philosophy.
The Dunbar Lecture series is held annually at Millsaps to present philosophically interesting and relevant topics to the general community. The series was instituted by Jack F. & Wylene Dunbar in honor of beloved Millsaps teacher, colleague, and scholar Robert E. Bergmark.
