Philosophy of Science

Evolution and Human Nature

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Hassan Miandari

Associate professor, Department of Science Studies, Iranian Institute of Philosophy, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30465/ps.2026.54880.1838
Abstract
"Human nature" has been investigated by scientists from various evolutionary perspectives. We consider the views of some scientists from sociobiology, evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, niche construction, behavioral ecology, and developmental systems perspectives. Philosophers after scientists analyzed "human nature." We consider the views of four philosophers. These views show that the concept of "human nature" is highly controversial, and some even defend its elimination. We propose "disciplined comprehensive" theory of human nature. According to this theory "human nature" is a philosophical concept. Descriptive and explanatory human natures are disciplined comprehensive sets of traits. Different scientific disciplines describe and explain different aspects of human nature, investigate its limiting function and examine cultural influence on it.
Key words: human nature, disciplined comprehensive theory, evolution, culture, development, description, explanation.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Evolutionary scientists define "human nature" differently and some of them deny it. Wilson says innate behavioral predispositions are bases. Tooby and Cosmides say the set of universal innate psychological mechanisms and developmental programs are bases. Richerson says genes that explain human behavior and were under the influence of culture are bases. Laland and Brown say the term "human nature" should be abandoned. Cashdan says the norms of reaction are bases. Stotz and Griffiths say development is basis. Philosophers after scientists analyze "human nature." Machery says the properties that humans tend to possess as a result of the evolution of their species are bases. Ramsey says the pattern of trait clusters within the totality of possible life histories is basis. Kronfeldner says a pluralist account is basis. Lewens says reliable dispositions of our species are bases. I say disciplined comprehensive traits are bases.
Materials and Methods
This study adopts a philosophical-conceptual approach, employing critical and comparative analysis of selected scientific and philosophical accounts of human nature. On this basis, a disciplined comprehensive theory of human nature is proposed, encompassing diverse disciplinary findings while maintaining principled conceptual constraints.
Discussion and Result
I argue that "human nature" is a philosophical concept. Philosophy determines what conditions "human nature" should have. "Human nature" should be both descriptive and explanatory, should be such that different scientific disciplines could investigate different aspects of it, and should include both commonalities and differences among human beings. Philosophy determines what "human" in "human nature" refers to. "Human" refers to different sets of genus "Homo" according to different scientific disciplines. Philosophy determines whether "human nature" is one kind or different kinds. There are three different kinds of "human nature": classificatory, descriptive, and explanatory.
I argue that descriptive "human natures" consists of "comprehensive" sets of reliable traits. Traits include those that other animals could have, those that could vary, those that could have different evolutionary and non-evolutionary causes, those that could be actual or potential, those that could be individual or social, those that could belong to different ages, those that could be anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and psychological, and those that could be actual or possible.
I argue that these traits should have two probable constraints. First, changing them is probably difficult. There are three kinds of difficulties: epistemic, instrumental, and pragmatic. Second, traits are probably related to other traits and form clusters.
Conclusion
If we consider "human nature" a philosophical concept, then we can go beyond specific perspectives of different scientific disciplines and give a comprehensive definition of it. If we consider "human nature" a comprehensive concept, then we can be open to findings of different scientific disciplines to describe and explain different aspects of it, investigate its limiting function and examine cultural influence on it. And if we consider "human nature" a disciplined concept, then we can prevent it from being too inclusive and flexible.

Keywords

human nature
disciplined comprehensive theory
evolution
culture
development
description
explanation
Subjects
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Philosophy of Science
Volume 15, Issue 2 - Serial Number 30
(Autumn & Winter)
February 2026
Pages 251-284

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