Veneer theory
Veneer Theory is a term coined by Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal in his book "Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved" to denote the view that human morality is "a cultural overlay, a thin veneer hiding an otherwise selfish and brutish nature"[1]. The idea of the veneer theory goes back to Thomas Henry Huxley and is today represented by biologists like Richard Dawkins and George C. Williams.
Proponents of the theory
Thomas Henry Huxley developed the idea that moral tendencies are not part of the human nature, and so our ancestors became moral by choice, not by evolution. Thus it represents a discrepancy in Huxley's Darwinian conviction. Good behavior is explained by this theory as a veneer of morality. This dualistic point of view separates humans from animals by rejecting every connection between human morality and animal social tendencies. George C. Williams, as another advocate of the veneer theory, sees „morality as an accidental capability produced, in its boundless stupidity, by a biological process that is normally opposed to the expression of such a capability“[2].
Critics of the theory
De Waal criticizes the veneer theory and sees our morality as a direct outgrowth of the social instincts human beings share with other animals. He argues that the advocates of the veneer theory don't have any indications or empirical evidence which support the theory, and that it is highly unlikely that humans can deny their genes and improve morality merely by choice. As an example he compares Huxley's theory with a school of piranhas deciding to become vegetarian. De Waal bases his argument against the veneer theory on observations of behavior of humanity's relatives in his long work as primatologist. „Building blocks of morality“[3] can be already observed in other primates, and by the principle of parsimony, it is quite possible that some sort of morality is evolutionarily ancient and shared with our ancestors. De Waal assumes that the evolutionary origins to lie in emotions we share with other animals, e.g. empathy. Human morality is according to de Waal a product of Social evolution, and instead of Huxley's theory, this point of view— a continuity between human morality and animal soicial tendencies— is unitary and thus more compatible to the Evolutionary theory. Other critics of the veneer theory are Edward Westermarck and Edward Wilson.
See also
References
- ^ de Waal, Frans (2009). Macedo, Stephen; Ober, Josiah (eds.). Primates and philosophers: How morality evolved. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-691-14129-9.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Williams, George C. (1988). "Reply to comments on „Huxley`s Evolution and Ethics in Sociobiological Perspective."". Zygon. 23: 437–438.
- ^ de Waal, Frans (2009). Macedo, Stephen; Ober, Josiah (eds.). Primates and philosophers: How morality evolved. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-691-14129-9.
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