Understanding Relational Persons: A Conversation with Roger Scruton
Jan 12, 2020
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Roger Scruton discusses his latest book on human nature, exploring the reconciliation of conflicting views of evolutionary biology and individual autonomy through guilt and excuses. The podcast explores the extra dimension of human behavior that evolutionary adaptation and scientific ideas alone cannot explain. It delves into the concept of personhood, comparing Kant's ideas to the modern liberal account based on contract and consent. The podcast also examines emergent features and cognitive dualism, discussing the limitations of evolutionary biology in explaining human behavior and experiences. The chapter on freedom emphasizes the connection between responsibility, blame, and accountability, and explores the limitations of the concept of contract and consent in understanding human relationships.
Evolutionary biology can explain human behavior, but it cannot fully capture the complexity of human behavior and the emergence of a new reality beyond adaptation.
Human nature encompasses more than just contract and consent; it includes a deep sense of the sacredness of others and recognition of moral obligations.
Deep dives
Understanding the Contradiction between Evolutionary Biology and Personal Autonomy
Evolutionary biology claims to explain human behavior through adaptation, while also asserting personal autonomy and freedom. This contradiction arises because living freely can lead to guilt, and evolutionary biology is used as an excuse to remove guilt.
Evolutionary Explanation of Human Behavior is Insufficient
While humans are animals and subject to evolutionary explanations, human behavior is complex and can be understood in a different way. The gradual complexity of our behavior creates a new reality that cannot be fully explained by evolutionary adaptation.
Roger Scruton's View on Personhood and Autonomy
Scruton argues that contract and consent are important aspects of human nature but not the only ones. He believes that humans have a deep sense of the sacredness of others and a recognition of moral obligations beyond contracts and consent.
The Emergence of Higher Levels of Being
Scruton compares the emergence of higher levels of being in human evolution to the gradual development of a painting, where individual brush strokes eventually form a face. Similarly, humans evolve to a point where the face of personhood appears on the human body, and different ways of understanding and interacting emerge.