Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics
The theory of evolution by natural selection can help explain why people care about other species. Building upon recent insights that morality evolves to secure fitness advantages of cooperation, we propose that conservation ethics (moral beliefs, attitudes, intuitions and norms regarding other spec...
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2018-01-01
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Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181038 |
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doaj-2f935c2207b54368b367d603d51a95f62020-11-25T04:06:37ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032018-01-0151110.1098/rsos.181038181038Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethicsDarragh HareBernd BlosseyH. Kern ReeveThe theory of evolution by natural selection can help explain why people care about other species. Building upon recent insights that morality evolves to secure fitness advantages of cooperation, we propose that conservation ethics (moral beliefs, attitudes, intuitions and norms regarding other species) could be adaptations that support cooperation between humans and non-humans. We present eco-evolutionary cost–benefit models of conservation behaviours as interspecific cooperation (altruism towards members of other species). We find that an evolutionary rule identical in structure to Hamilton's rule (which explains altruistic behaviour towards related conspecifics) can explain altruistic behaviour towards members of other species. Natural selection will favour traits for selectively altering the success of members of other species (e.g. conserving them) in ways that maximize inclusive fitness return benefits. Conservation behaviours and the ethics that evolve to reinforce them will be sensitive to local ecological and socio-cultural conditions, so will assume different contours in different places. Difficulties accurately assessing costs and benefits provided by other species, time required to adapt to ecological and socio-cultural change and barriers to collective action could explain the apparent contradiction between the widespread existence of conservation ethics and patterns of biodiversity decline globally.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181038altruismbiodiversity conservationconservation ethicscooperationevolution of moralityhamilton's rule |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Darragh Hare Bernd Blossey H. Kern Reeve |
spellingShingle |
Darragh Hare Bernd Blossey H. Kern Reeve Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics Royal Society Open Science altruism biodiversity conservation conservation ethics cooperation evolution of morality hamilton's rule |
author_facet |
Darragh Hare Bernd Blossey H. Kern Reeve |
author_sort |
Darragh Hare |
title |
Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
title_short |
Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
title_full |
Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
title_fullStr |
Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
title_sort |
value of species and the evolution of conservation ethics |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
series |
Royal Society Open Science |
issn |
2054-5703 |
publishDate |
2018-01-01 |
description |
The theory of evolution by natural selection can help explain why people care about other species. Building upon recent insights that morality evolves to secure fitness advantages of cooperation, we propose that conservation ethics (moral beliefs, attitudes, intuitions and norms regarding other species) could be adaptations that support cooperation between humans and non-humans. We present eco-evolutionary cost–benefit models of conservation behaviours as interspecific cooperation (altruism towards members of other species). We find that an evolutionary rule identical in structure to Hamilton's rule (which explains altruistic behaviour towards related conspecifics) can explain altruistic behaviour towards members of other species. Natural selection will favour traits for selectively altering the success of members of other species (e.g. conserving them) in ways that maximize inclusive fitness return benefits. Conservation behaviours and the ethics that evolve to reinforce them will be sensitive to local ecological and socio-cultural conditions, so will assume different contours in different places. Difficulties accurately assessing costs and benefits provided by other species, time required to adapt to ecological and socio-cultural change and barriers to collective action could explain the apparent contradiction between the widespread existence of conservation ethics and patterns of biodiversity decline globally. |
topic |
altruism biodiversity conservation conservation ethics cooperation evolution of morality hamilton's rule |
url |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181038 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT darraghhare valueofspeciesandtheevolutionofconservationethics AT berndblossey valueofspeciesandtheevolutionofconservationethics AT hkernreeve valueofspeciesandtheevolutionofconservationethics |
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