Sharon Street and Evolutionary Ethics

Sharon Street

Sharon Street (born 1973) is a prominent American philosopher known for her work in moral philosophy and evolutionary ethics. She serves as a professor of philosophy and the chair of the Department of Philosophy at New York University, one of the leading institutions for philosophical studies globally.

Academic Background

Street's academic career is marked by her contributions to the field of ethics, where she explores the intersection of evolutionary theory and moral reasoning. Her work is particularly influential in discussing how evolutionary biology impacts our understanding of moral realism.

Evolutionary Ethics

Evolutionary ethics is a field that examines the role of evolutionary processes in shaping moral systems and ethical behavior. It considers how the evolutionary history of humans influences our moral intuitions and ethical beliefs.

Sharon Street's Contributions

Street argues that evolutionary psychology presents challenges to moral realism, a philosophical position asserting that there are objective moral truths. According to Street, if our moral beliefs are deeply rooted in evolutionary processes aimed at survival and reproduction, their content may lack objectivity. This position questions the validity of moral realism and opens a discourse about the subjectivity and objectivity of moral judgments.

Street's work in this field connects to broader discussions within philosophy of biology and meta-ethics, examining how empirical scientific theories influence philosophical questions about morality.

Related Topics

• Moral Psychology
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Philosophy of Science
• Bioethics
• Animal Ethics

Sharon Street's substantial contributions to the discourse on evolutionary ethics have significantly impacted contemporary philosophical discussions, bridging the gap between empirical sciences and philosophical inquiry into moral and ethical dimensions.