Sociobiology and Human Nature: A Perspective from Catholic Theology

Author: Pope, Stephen J.

Source: Zygon, Volume 33, Number 2, June 1998 , pp. 275-291(17)

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Abstract:

This paper addresses a nonspecialist audience on how sociobiological accounts of human nature might be relevant to Christian theology. I begin with some confessional remarks to clarify what I mean by Christian theology and how I understand it to be related to science. I indicate briefly why sociobiology might be of interest to theology and then move on to sketch some ways in which sociobiology might relate to theological ethics. My basic point is that sociobiology is directly relevant to theological ethics in its understanding of evolved human emotional predispositions but not in its normative reflection proper.

Keywords: faith; human flourishing; human nature; normative discourse; Roman Catholic; sociobiology; theological ethics; theology; virtue

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0591-2385.00147

Affiliations: 1: Boston College

Publication date: 1998-06-01