ABSTRACT
In this chapter we shall take a closer look at two ways other than providing an explanation of ethics and moral behaviour (that is, project A) in which it is possible for evolutionary theory to be of great relevance for ethics. This will provide further insights into the strengths and weaknesses of a Darwinian explanation of ethics. A second way in which science in general or evolutionary biology in particular could be of significance for ethics is that it can provide us with new information about human life and its environment which either directly or in conjunction with extra-scientific claims undermines existing ethical theories, norms or beliefs (that is, project B). A third way (project C), which is more radical and challenging, is that science, that is, evolutionary biology, could tell us how to behave morally; we can replace traditional ethics with scientific ethics. Let us start by considering the merits of (B) and then move on to (C).
