A
theory dealing with the origin of
ethics in
humankind. It states that humans are
social animals that have certain genetically determined
traits that promote
social interaction.
Evolution has provided us with our ethics because, if we held vastly different values, we would be
killed off promptly. For example,
empathy is a good human trait which helps us prevent
conflict. Since this trait can be seen even in
infants (babies cry in empathy sometimes when they see other babies crying), empathy must be somewhat genetically programmed into us. The
sensitivities that the
majority of people have built into them is what is known as "ethical" or "
moral." This theory is quite new, so it has no official set
canon. Being applied in varying ways, this theory has quite a range of
subsets. One
extreme applies the theory to our whole being, making humans sound like
robots with preprogrammed
instructions. The other group applies it in only a general way, leaving room for
free will.
Sociobiology has the same problems that the
Social Contract theory has: It does not account for our
intuitive response to things like genocide, nor does it account for great heroes who defy the social norms.