Darwinian natural right: the biological ethics of human nature

687 Pages·1998·1.56 MB·English

by  Larry Arnhart

Darwinian Natural Right : The Biological
title: Ethics of Human Nature SUNY Series in
Philosophy and Biology
author: Arnhart, Larry.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0791436942
print isbn13: 9780791436943
ebook isbn13: 9780585090115
language: English
subject Ethics, Evolutionary.
publication date: 1998
lcc: BJ1311.A66 1998eb
ddc: 171/.7
subject: Ethics, Evolutionary.
Page i
Darwinian Natural Right
Page ii
SUNY Series in Philosophy and Biology
David Edward Shaner, Editor
Page iii
Darwinian Natural Right
The Biological Ethics of Human Nature
Larry Arnhart
State University
of New York Press
Page iv
Published by
State University of New York Press
© 1998 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in
writing of the publisher.
For information, address the State University of New York Press,
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246
Production by Bernadine Dawes Marketing by Dana Yanulavich
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Arnhart, Larry, 1949
Darwinian natural right: the biological ethics of human nature/
Larry Arnhart.
p. cm. (SUNY series in philosophy and biology.)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7914-3693-4 (alk. paper). ISBN 0-7914-3694-2 (pbk.:
alk. paper)
1. Ethics, Evolutionary. I. Title. II. Series.
BJ1311.A66 1998
171'.7dc21 97-49287
CIP
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Page v
For Susan
My wife and my friend
Page vii
Ius naturalis est, quod natura omnia animalia docuit.
Natural right is that which nature has taught all animals.
Justinian, Institutes
Page ix
Contents
Abbreviations xiii
Acknowledgments xv
1. Aristotle, Darwin, and Natural Right 1
An Intellectual Journey 1
Ten Propositions 6
Seven Objections 7
An Overview of the Book 13
2. Desire and Reason 17
The Nature of Desire 18
The Normative Structure of Animal Movement 21
Twenty Natural Desires 29
Nurturing Nature 36
Four Sources of Moral Disagreement 44
Prudence 46
3. Political Animals 51
Ants, Bees, and Other Political Animals 52
The Hobbesian Critique 58
The Nature of Culture 64
4. The Human Nature of Morality and Freedom 69
Natural Morality 69
Natural Freedom 83
Conclusion 87