Comment Section for The Evolution of Moral Progress: A Biocultural Theory | Reviews | Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews | University of Notre Dame

The webpage is a review of the book "The Evolution of Moral Progress: A Biocultural Theory" by Allen Buchanan and Russell Powell, published on Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews. The reviewer, Allan Gibbard, praises the book for its exploration of moral progress, especially the concept of moral inclusiveness. The authors propose that conditions favorable to moral inclusiveness are a 'luxury good', only likely to be widespread in highly favorable conditions. They challenge existing theories and propose a 'biocultural' explanation for patterns of moral progress and regress. The book also explores the role of genetic and cultural evolution in moral progress, and introduces the concept of "open-ended normativity" to explain the ability to identify, scrutinize, and modify norms. The review ends with Gibbard expressing enthusiasm for the book and its contribution to the understanding of moral progress.