EvoluTion And SoCiETy 599
Much of what is most meaningful to us is “perfectly useless”: music, sunsets,
walking on a beach, baseball, soccer, movies, gardening, spiritual inspiration—
and understanding. Whether the subject is mathematics, the natural world, phi-
losophy, or human nature, attempting to understand is rewarding in itself, aside
from whatever practical consequences it may yield.
To know about the extraordinary diversity of organisms, about the complexi-
ties of the cell, of development, or of our brains, and about how these marvels
came to be, is deeply rewarding to anyone with a sense of curiosity and wonder. To
have achieved such knowledge is, like other advances in science and technology,
among humanity’s great accomplishments. Likewise, to have some understand-
ing, however imperfect, of what we humans are and how we came into existence is
richly rewarding. It is fascinating and ennobling to learn of our 3.5-billion-year-old
pedigree, of when and how and possibly why our ancestors evolved the character-
istics that led to our present condition, of how and when modern humans emerged
from Africa and colonized the rest of Earth, of how genetically unified all humans
are with one another, and yet how genetically diverse we are. It is both challeng-
ing and important to try to understand “human nature”—to understand how our
behavior is shaped by our genes and therefore by our evolutionary past, and how
it is shaped by culture, social forces, and our unique individual history of learning
and experience. Evolution may challenge our view of life and its meaning. Some
see in it a dark denial of purpose, while others find that Darwin “re-enchants the
world,” providing “a way of knowing that is deeply human, saturated with value
and feeling, and rigorously honest” [70].
Evolution is the unifying theme of the biological sciences and an important
foundation for the “human sciences” of medicine, psychology, and sociology. Psy-
chologists and anthropologists may differ among themselves on the role of evolu-
tion in determining “human nature,” but most will agree that some knowledge of
evolutionary principles is essential for understanding their subject. And although
evolutionary biologists and social scientists do not set social policy, they can speak
out against abuses of their science. They can point out misunderstandings of evo-
lutionary theory, such as racist interpretations of differences among human popu-
lations, or the “naturalistic fallacy” that what is natural is good: the false justifica-
tion of Social Darwinism, of the belief that homosexuality is wrong because it does
not lead to reproduction, and of the ideology that women should be subservient to
men. Science can play an important role in the ever-necessary defense of human
rights and justice.
Evolution has neither moral nor immoral content, and evolutionary biology
provides no philosophical basis for aesthetics or ethics. But evolutionary science,
like other knowledge, can serve the cause of human dignity by helping us relieve
disease and hunger, and appreciate both the unity and the diversity of humankind.
And it can enhance our appreciation of life in all its magnificent diversity.
Go to the
Evolution Companion Website
EvoluTion 4 E.SinAuER.CoM
for data analysis and simulation exercises, quizzes, and more.22_EVOL4E_CH22.indd 599 3/22/17 1:49 PM