Genes, Genesis, and God
Values and their Origins in Natural and Human History

This book argues that the phenomena of religion can not be reduced to the phenomena of biology.

Holmes Rolston (Author)

9780521641081, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 February 1999

418 pages, 14 b/w illus.
23.6 x 15.7 x 3.1 cm, 0.7 kg

'This book … is a full and fair natural theological attempt to understand modern biology and its relevance for social, ethical and religious thought.' The Philosophical Quarterly

Holmes Rolston challenges the sociobiological orthodoxy that would naturalize science, ethics, and religion. The book argues that genetic processes are not blind, selfish, and contingent, and that nature is therefore not value-free. The author examines the emergence of complex biodiversity through evolutionary history. Especially remarkable in this narrative is the genesis of human beings with their capacities for science, ethics, and religion. A major conceptual task of the book is to relate cultural genesis to natural genesis. There is also a general account of how values are created and transmitted in both natural and human cultural history. The book is written by one of the most well-respected figures in the philosophy of biology and religion.

Preface
Part I. Genetic Values: Diversity and Complexity in Natural History: 1. Natural history: diversity and complexity
2. Contingent natural history?
3. Searching genes
4. Smart genes
5. Genetic algorithms
6. Intrinsic and inclusive genetic values
7. Distributed and shared genetic values
8. Storied natural history
Part II. Genetic Identity: Conserved and Integrated Values: 9. Genetic identity
10. Genes in organisms
11. Organisms in communities
12. Sexuality, selfishness, and community
13. Interspecifically and intraspecifically shared genes
Part III. Culture: Genes and the Genesis of Human Culture
14. Nature and culture
15. Gene-mind co-evolution
16. Genetic determinants in culture
17. The evolution of ideas
18. The human genius
19. Historical versus universal explanations in nature and culture
Part IV. Science: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated: 20. Science: generating and selecting theories
21. Science naturalized?
22. Science socialized
23. The selective advantage of science
24. Progress in scientific and in natural history
25. Transcendent science
26. An unfolding story
Part V. Ethics: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated
27. Moral value: love, justice, and respect
28. Naturalized ethics? Emergent, socialized morality
29. Naturalized ethics? Illusory, Darwinized morality
30. Evaluating ethics: values defended and shared
Part VI. Religion: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated: 31. The divine epic of life
32. Religion and fertility
33. Religion and altruism
34. Functional and true religion
35. Genesis and God
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Social & political philosophy [HPS]