2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
On the Theoretical and Historical Relationship between Utilitarianism and the Theories of Evolution
Project/Area Number |
15K01998
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Philosophy/Ethics
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Research Institution | Kyoto University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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Keywords | 進化論と倫理 / 功利主義 / 道徳心理学 / 規範理論 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
This research project examined the implications of theories of evolution to ethics, mainly from the viewpoint of utilitarianism, which is one of the main theories in contemporary normative ethics. Specifically, it first explored the historical and theoretical reasons why the classical utilitarians in Britain in the 19th century such as J.S. Mill or Henry Sidgwick did not think that the theories of evolution has any implications to ethics. Second, it also examined P. Singer's understanding of the theories of evolution and how he connected them to his own normative theory. The results of this research are repeatedly discussed with researchers in Japan and foreign countries. Along with several published articles, it resulted in the publication of a Japanese translation of an introductory book on evolutionary ethics.
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Free Research Field |
倫理学
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