What the Fall of Angels Tells Us about the Essence of Morality

Martyna Koszkało,Robert Koszkało

doi:10.3390/rel12110920

Abstract

The article describes two concepts of the sources of morality present in the evolutionist traditions (Evolution of Ethics and the Veneer Theory). Then, a modal argument against the evolutionist theory of morality is presented, based on the history of the fall of angels present in classical theism. This story is taken in the article as a possible example of the actions of individuals who operate outside of any evolutionary and social context, and of those whose ontic constitution excludes the possession of emotions. In this way, an attempt is made to present the essential features of anyone that is subject to moral evaluation, thus concluding that morality in its essence cannot be defined in biological and evolutionary terms.

Highlights

IntroductionWe attempt, inter alia, to show that, with this approach, morality is reduced to its social and biological functions, while the personal and first-person aspect essential for morality is omitted
With regard to research on morality carried out from an evolutionary perspective, it should be emphasized that the situation of the fall of angels represents a moral evil whose accomplishment is in no way related to the possession of emotions; it takes place outside the context of such concepts, as aggression or empathy
The modal argument, based on the possibility of the existence of such entities as angels, was intended to show that morality cannot, perforce, be defined in evolutionary terms, since it can apply to the being and activities of extra-biological individuals

Summary

Introduction

We attempt, inter alia, to show that, with this approach, morality is reduced to its social and biological functions, while the personal and first-person aspect essential for morality is omitted It seems that, in the tradition of Christian theism, the concept of moral good and evil, and the idea of free will are important for the original and essential concept of morality. This instance, present in classical Christian theism, reveals the essential features of morality by showing that morality can involve beings functioning outside of any evolutionary context Both beings with and without a biological constitution. By the essence of morality, we understand the set of constitutive features of every moral act of any possible person (both biological and extra-biological).

Evolutionism and Sources of Morality

The Fall of Angels

Primary Concept of Morality

Conclusions