Evolution and Ethics, and Other Essays

"Evolution and Ethics" by Thomas Henry Huxley is a compilation of essays from the late 1800s that considers the intersection of evolution and ethics and how science helps decide our moral stance as a society. Huxley inspects what evolution means for how we decide right from wrong, often finding tension between our moral rules and the natural ways of the world. The collection starts with the "Evolution and Ethics" essay, which is the source of his following discussions. He contemplates wrestling with moral problems given scientific understanding while highlighting the friction between our roots in evolution and our social ethics. He also lays the groundwork for a detailed look at how the happenings of the universe shape our lives, morals, and society, showing that ethics tries to bring unity and reduce conflict but sometimes goes against the survival instincts that evolution created.