In this chapter, I attempt to refute the accusation of biologism. When a biologist looks beyond their own field, they are often accused of engaging in biologism—that is, of attempting to apply biological principles to human society (in my case, “he”). In this chapter, I support the position that one must never infer a normative “ought” from any natural “is” (e.g., in the case of humans), but that biologists can and indeed should comment on specific societal issues. Conversely, it would be utterly absurd to pretend that we are not organisms subject to the laws of biology (even if we are sometimes able to transcend these laws).

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Biologism: Is Nature Good or Evil?

  • Mark Maraun

摘要

In this chapter, I attempt to refute the accusation of biologism. When a biologist looks beyond their own field, they are often accused of engaging in biologism—that is, of attempting to apply biological principles to human society (in my case, “he”). In this chapter, I support the position that one must never infer a normative “ought” from any natural “is” (e.g., in the case of humans), but that biologists can and indeed should comment on specific societal issues. Conversely, it would be utterly absurd to pretend that we are not organisms subject to the laws of biology (even if we are sometimes able to transcend these laws).