Dennis Werner

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Evolution / Evolução Article Abstracts/ Resumos de Artigos

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2006  The evolution of male homosexuality and its implications for human psychological and cultural variations, Chapter 13. IN Volker Sommer and Paul L. Vasey (eds.) Homosexual Behaviour in Animals. Cambridge: Cambridge University press. pgs.316-346. click here for abstract

2003. Princípios morais e a evolução de um senso moral. Revista de Ciências Humanas 34 (Outubro). p. 253-281. UFSC. ISSN 0101 9589 click here for the full-text English version

Scholars often confuse descriptions or explanations of what is with judgments about what ought to be. The naturalistic, relativistic and moralistic fallacies which derive from this confusion have been particularly common when evaluating theories about the evolution of morality. This review examines aspects of our moral sense that evolved from the altruism common to kin groups and from the accomodation to dominance hierarchies and reciprocity typical in larger groupings.Many empirical studies show how we need to be wary of our innate sense of morality. In particular, our moral indignation and sense of justice mostly reflect concern with our place in the status hierarchy rather than legitimate moral concerns.

A moral system based on the principle of increasing "well-being," rather than "justice" permits us to use empircal research to uncover the best ways to increase well-being. It also avoids the dependency on free will important to other moral systems, and so permits a more deterministic-scientific view of human nature. These themes in moral philosophy are at least as old as the Protestant Reformation.

KEY WORDS: evolution of morality; moral indignation; altruism; reciprocity; justice; Protestant Reformation

1999. Evolution: Implications for Epistemology and Cross-Cultural Variation. IN The Darwinian Heritage and Sociobiology.Johan M.G. van der Dennen, David Smillie and Daniel R. Wilson. eds. London: Praeger, pgs. 83-100..

• Contemporary evolutionary theory has profound implications for cultural anthropology. At the most abstract, generalized level, it affects the way we conceive of the relationships between mind and reality. This affects our views about the role of data and of biases in anthropological research. For example, it implies that replication is possible because of universals in human thinking and perceptions. At a second level, evolutionary theory helps to guide our thinking about the nature of human "psychic unity". In particular, the recognition that we are a product of natural selection may imply that our minds are constructed in modules, and that it may not be correct to insist that all aspects of our thinking, attitudes and feeling are structurally inseparable. Decontextualization of some aspects of the mind and of culture may be possible. Finally, evolutionary theory also inspires more specific hypotheses for explaining why cultures vary. These ideas are explored through a review of literatures from philosophy, evolutionary biology, cognitive ethology, cognitive and developmental psychology and cultural anthropology.

1999. Sexo, Símbolo e Solidariedade:Ensaios de Psicologia Evolucionista . Florianópolis: Coleção ILHA: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Antropologia Social. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina) Clique para mais informações

1998 Sobre a evolução e variação cultural na homossexualidade masculina. IN Joana Maria Pedro e Miriam Pillar Grossi (orgs). Masculino, Feminino Plural. Florianópolis: ed. Mulheres. (ver resumo na categoria sexualidade)

1997. O Pensamento de Animais e Intelectuais: Evolução e Epistemologia. Florianópolis: Editora da UFSC. (mais informações) See also English Version: How Animals and Intellectuals Think

1990 A Evolução da Organização Social Humana. Revista de Antropologia (33): 141-163.

• Este ensaio examina evidencias paleontológicas e etológicas para avaliar diferentes idéias a respeito da organização social dos antepassados do ser humano. Ao contrário do que pensavam Marx e Engels, as evidências sugerem que, no momento da separação entre os chimpanzés e os hominídeos, estes antepassados fossem virilocais (não matrilocais), e que tivessem um sistema de acasalamento basicamente monogâmico mas com um pouco de poliginia também. Serão os chimpanzés que mais mudaram para um sistema de acasalamento promíscuo.