Research Paper on:
Moral Philosophy and Evolutionary Theory

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
as well as making its obvious impact on the scientific community. While some philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche used the concept of experience from the science of Darwin to further  philosophical arguments, others believed that evolution could be applied directly to the development of morality, ethics and consciousness as components of survival similar to those found in the animal kingdom.  Many modern day philosophers and theologians disagree however as aspects of morality and consciousness cannot be found to have an origin other than that of divine intervention. Regardless of the  acceptance or rejection of the evolutionary theory as applied to moral and ethical development, its introduction and concepts through the world of science have had a significant impact and relevance  in all academic disciplines including moral philosophy. Charles Darwin in the formulation and publication of his theory of evolution influenced not only the  scientific thinking of the 19th century but also other domains which included religion, moral philosophy, social value and literature (Graham, 1999). Darwin was considered a naturalist and furthered the theories  of his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, which adapted many of the social and philosophical beliefs of the material world as a place which is "governed by natural forces, including the struggle  for existence in which the fittest members of a varying population survive, reproduce, and pass on their traits to the next generation" (Graham, 1999, p. 18).  Prior to the publication of Darwins "Origin of Species" in 1859, the field of science had been slowly transforming toward the idea of evolution as evidence  through fossil records that species had been constantly changing and "improving" over the years. Despite the theories of evolution and selective breeding which could be seen throughout nature, "the prevailing