Drawing conclusions for how to live

Modern science provides evidence about what we are and where we came from. For a humanist, it supports the belief that we are a product of nature. But can an understanding of where we came from and our relationship towards other living things support us when thinking about how we should live our lives? Many humanists believe it can. The scientific picture can provide more than just an explanation. It can be an inspiration.

Of course, it is possible to draw somewhat negative (and sometimes mistaken) conclusions from a scientific understanding of our evolution:

• Being just another leaf on the tree of life means we cannot claim there is anything distinctive or special about human beings.
• Survival requires acting selfishly so selfish behaviour is in our best interests.
• We are all locked in a battle for supremacy and only the fittest will (and ought to) survive. (This belief has been employed to argue that the principles of Darwinian natural selection should be applied to society, inspiring imperialism, racism, and eugenics.)

But it is also possible to use what we have learned from the theory of evolution to support the case for a more humanist approach to life. (These ideas will be explored in more detail later in the course.)

1) Knowledge and belief (see Part 2)

• Before Darwin’s scientific explanation of our origins, many people believed that divine intervention was the only possible explanation for the complexity of the living world around us. But we now know it is prudent to keep seeking natural explanations rather than turn to the supernatural.

2) Morality (see Part 4)

• Our moral capacity has its origins in our evolution as social animals.
• Human beings are all one species: when we focus on what we share, rather than how we differ, we can recognise the error of prejudice and discrimination towards those with superficial differences to ourselves.
• All life is part of one extended family. We share many needs and experiences with other living things and should therefore extend our circle of moral concern beyond our own species.

3) Meaning and happiness (see Part 3)

• By accepting our animal nature and origins we can accept that we are not perfect, nor can we be. That does not mean we should not aspire to be better, but it can help us to understand why we may sometimes be tempted to do the wrong thing, and that can bring about a sense of relief and reassurance.
• Recognising the improbable chain of events that lead to our existence (e.g. that every one of our billions of ancestors survived long enough to reproduce) can help us to appreciate how lucky we are to be alive and to have the natural capacities we do.
• The fact that nature is capable of producing such astonishing variety and beauty can be a source of awe and wonder – for some, a supernatural cause diminishes the amazement that so much can come from such simple beginnings.

‘There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.’

Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species

It can be argued that these conclusions support the coherence of the humanist worldview. They enable the humanist to tie together some of the rational and scientific aspects of their philosophy with some of the ethical and the celebratory. Some people fear that accepting the theory of evolution might undermine what they see as the positive things about being human and lead to dangerous consequences for how we might treat each other. But as we have seen, they are not the only conclusions we can draw. An understanding and acceptance of our nature as evolved creatures can, for humanists, enhance our lives and provide support for arguments that can lead to a fairer and kinder world.

‘We’re not the pinnacle of evolution. Instead, we are connected with all other species; part of the huge, copiously branching tree of life. As conscious beings, we must surely endeavour to look after each other – and the planet.’

Alice Roberts, Vice-president of Humanists UK