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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Darragh Hare, Bernd Blossey, H. Kern Reeve
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2018-01-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.181038
id doaj-2f935c2207b54368b367d603d51a95f6
record_format Article
spelling 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
_version_ 1724431311923314688