Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, I intend to offer an evolutionary interpretation of the concept of sympathy in Hume’s ethical theory based on the general tenets of contemporary evolutionary ethical theory. By presenting the conceptual frameworks that make up these theories, my argument involves specifying that, for both of them, the psychological mechanism of sympathy seems to figure as an essential evolutionary trait of moral and altruistic behavior in the human species. In the context of evolutionary biology, two evolutionary models have been developed to explain the logic of human altruistic behavior: i) kin selection and ii) multilevel selection. I argue, based on textual evidence in Hume’s work, that the psychological mechanism of sympathy seems to be best explained by the multilevel selection model. I conclude, then, by highlighting some important contributions that this evolutionary interpretation can make to the general plausibility of Hume’s ethical theory.