Abstract

The article aims to analyze the role that evolutionism plays in Mary Midgley’s thought. To address this issue, I will focus on a question that has been widely explored by Midgely, namely the «origin» of altruism and its relationship with selfishness. Discussing the tough critiques raised by Midgley against Dawkins’ «selfish gene» and other Darwinian metaphors will shed light on the evolutionary view that emerges from Midgley’s work and how, according to her, the relationship between evolutionism and philosophical reflection on morality should be articulated. Midgley’s insights on these topics, I will argue, have to be taken seriously into considerations by anyone who wants to hold up a mature and sure-footed form of ethical naturalism.