ABSTRACT
Edward Westermarck was not only a follower of Smith, Hume and Darwin; he himself has had a considerable influence on evolutionary psychology. This chapter addresses some central themes in contemporary evolutionary psychological theories on morality where Westermarck's thinking has had an influence. These areas are: the altruism/egoism debate, rationalist and sentimentalist perspectives on morality, and contemporary normative and political perspectives on morality. The concept of altruism is, however, connected with another conceptual innovation that appeared roughly at the same time, namely the concept of 'empathy'. Another concept that also often is used comparatively is the concept of emotion. For instance, various animals and human beings are often described as having certain emotions in common, and then these emotions are defined as 'basic' or 'natural'. The concept of egoism, which is generally taken to be the opposite of altruism, has also assumed a different shape in evolutionary psychology. The chapter considers certain methodological questions concerning evolutionary psychological perspectives on ethics.
