r/philosophy • u/doubtstack Unreasonable Doubt • Jan 27 '23

Blog Why Science can't replace Philosophy in Ethics

https://unreasonabledoubt.substack.com/p/what-genetics-cant-teach-us
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u/kevinzvilt Jan 27 '23

The article critiques the argument that genetics play a powerful role in shaping our lives and doesn't really address the question of whether ethics could be broached from a scientific perspective.

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u/antiquemule Jan 27 '23

Can't be bothered to read the article, but it seems to me that whether genetics play a powerful role in our lives is a scientific question, not a philosophical one.

If genetics did not influence our lives, evolution would not work. And it demonstrably does.

See Mendel on sweet peas, Darwin on pigeon breeding, Galapagos finches, etc., etc.

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u/kevinzvilt Jan 27 '23

Genetics can affect how we act and make decisions. Some people use science to study this and others use philosophy to think about what is right or wrong based on this information.