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

Holmes Rolston

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139173261

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.

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

Source: The Philosophical Quarterly

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Genes, Genesis, and God

Values and their Origins in Natural and Human History

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-viii

Preface
pp ix-xvi

Chapter 1 - Genetic Values: Diversity and Complexity in Natural History
pp 1-53

Chapter 2 - Genetic Identity: Conserved and Integrated Values
pp 54-107

Chapter 3 - Culture: Genes and the Genesis of Human Culture
pp 108-159

Chapter 4 - Science: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated
pp 160-211

Chapter 5 - Ethics: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated
pp 212-291

Chapter 6 - Religion: Naturalized, Socialized, Evaluated
pp 292-370

References
pp 371-386

Index
pp 387-400

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Genes, Genesis, and God

Values and their Origins in Natural and Human History

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