--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientific theories never dictate human…" description: "\"Scientific theories never dictate human values, but they can often cast new light on ethical issues. From a sexual selection viewpoint, moral philosoph..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/geoffrey-miller-33444_accumulation_scientific-theories-never-dictate-human_1006463.jpg" --- # Scientific theories never dictate human values, but they… ![“Scientific theories never dictate human values, but they can often cast new light on ethical issues. From a sexual selection viewpoint, moral philosophy and political theory have mostly been attempts to shift male human sexual competitiveness from physical violence to the peaceful accumulation of…” quote by Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/geoffrey-miller-33444_accumulation_scientific-theories-never-dictate-human_1006463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/geoffrey-miller-33444_accumulation_scientific-theories-never-dictate-human_1006463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/geoffrey-miller-33444_accumulation_scientific-theories-never-dictate-human_1006463.jpg) > “Scientific theories never dictate human values, but they can often cast new light on ethical issues. From a sexual selection viewpoint, moral philosophy and political theory have mostly been attempts to shift male human sexual competitiveness from physical violence to the peaceful accumulation of wealth and status. The rights to life, liberty, and property are cultural inventions that function, in part, to keep males from killing and stealing from one another while they compete to attract sexual partners.” [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific theories don’t set moral values, but they can illuminate ethical debates, especially regarding how male competition shifts from violence to wealth accumulation. **In simple terms:** Science informs ethics, especially gender competition. Key Takeaway Consider how biology influences social norms. Themes ethics biology gender competition Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical policy-oriented When to use this quote - policy design - education curricula - gender studies Key Concepts evolutionary theory political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance scientific insight with cultural context? - What policies reduce competitive aggression? A Different Perspective Biological explanations can be overgeneralized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accumulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accumulation/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitiveness/) [Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Human values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-values/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-philosophy/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Partners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partners/) [Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-political-656836/) [Physical violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-violence/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-theory/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-theory/) [Sexual Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-competitiveness-2158832/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Viewpoint Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoint-moral-2158833/) [Viewpoints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoints/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“The normative principle I am suggesting for the law is simply this: No action should be considered illicit or illegal unless it invades, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/the-normative-principle-i-am-suggesting-for-the-law-is-simply-this-no/) [Murray N. 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We have Bushism. We have Clintonism. But there isn't a Trumpism. Bullet-point for me what the Trump political philosophy is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-ve-got-communism-we-have-bushism-we-have-clintonism-but-there-isn/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-are-kings-or-the-kings-and-princes-of-this-world/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [...there are some who are naturally fitted for philosophy and political leadership, while the rest should follow their lead and let philosophy alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-are-some-who-are-naturally-fitted-for-philosophy-and-political/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I have a social philosophy; you have political opinions; he has an ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/i-have-a-social-philosophy-you-have-political-opinions-he-has-an/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [The American people need no course in philosophy or political science of church history to know that God should not be made into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/the-american-people-need-no-course-in-philosophy-or-political-science/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [“Jürgen Habermas currently ranks as one of the most influential philosophers in the world. Bridging continental and Anglo-American traditions of thought, he has engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jurgen-habermas-currently-ranks-as-one-of-the-most-influential/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I would go into philosophy and political science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/i-thought-i-would-go-into-philosophy-and-political-science/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [“However intrinsically loony an idea may be, when people believe it, and act on that belief, it attains a power that can shape reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-spence/however-intrinsically-loony-an-idea-may-be-when-people-believe-it-and/) [Richard B. Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-spence/) > [I've never liked talking about my personal life, ever. Ever since I was 20, I've lived in a kind of public arena; and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-dalton/i-ve-never-liked-talking-about-my-personal-life-ever-ever-since-i-was/) [Timothy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-dalton/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More by Geoffrey Miller > [If you don't have the willpower to stop eating carbs, you won't have the willpower to do a dissertation. #truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/if-you-don-t-have-the-willpower-to-stop-eating-carbs-you-won-t-have/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [These capacities for randomness may have been amplified into human creativity through sexual and social selection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/these-capacities-for-randomness-may-have-been-amplified-into-human/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“Thus the name of the game when it comes to evolution is not obtaining food or other resources: it is reproduction. Which came first,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/thus-the-name-of-the-game-when-it-comes-to-evolution-is-not-obtaining/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“A person of limited intelligence but high conscientiousness can make a valuable employee; a person of higher intelligence but very low conscientiousness is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/a-person-of-limited-intelligence-but-high-conscientiousness-can-make/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“Psychopathy is basically the absence of sympathy. 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To say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/men-write-more-books-men-give-more-lectures-men-ask-more-questions/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“David Buss has amassed a lot of evidence that human females across many cultures tend to prefer males who have high social status, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/david-buss-has-amassed-a-lot-of-evidence-that-human-females-across/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“You could be the fittest person imaginable in terms of strength, intelligence, disease resistance and vitality, but if you fail to reproduce your contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/you-could-be-the-fittest-person-imaginable-in-terms-of-strength/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“Existing political philosophies all developed before evolutionary game theory, so they do not take equilibrium selection into account. Socialism pretends that individuals are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/existing-political-philosophies-all-developed-before-evolutionary/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“Imagine a young Isaac Newton time-travelling from 1670s England to teach Harvard undergrads in 2017. After the time-jump, Newton still has an obsessive, paranoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/imagine-a-young-isaac-newton-time-travelling-from-1670s-england-to/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [If most of your courtship attempts have succeeded, you must be a very attractive and charming person who has been aiming too low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/if-most-of-your-courtship-attempts-have-succeeded-you-must-be-a-very/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [“The healthy brain theory proposes that our minds are clusters of fitness indicators: persuasive salesmen like art, music, and humor, that do their best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/the-healthy-brain-theory-proposes-that-our-minds-are-clusters-of/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [Consumerism is hard to describe when it's the ocean and we're the plankton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/consumerism-is-hard-to-describe-when-it-s-the-ocean-and-we-re-the/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) [Explore all 15 Geoffrey Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) ## More Accumulation quotes > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-think-that-only-daring-speculation-can-lead-us-further-and-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Karma is often wrongly confused with the notion of a fixed destiny. It is more like an accumulation of tendencies that can lock us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/karma-is-often-wrongly-confused-with-the-notion-of-a-fixed-destiny-it/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [There has been, for some reason (or more likely an unfortunate accumulation of reasons) a trend over the past several decades for parents to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/there-has-been-for-some-reason-or-more-likely-an-unfortunate/) [Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/) > [Ageing is, simply and clearly, the accumulation of damage in the body. That's all that ageing is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-de-grey/ageing-is-simply-and-clearly-the-accumulation-of-damage-in-the-body/) [Aubrey de Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-de-grey/) > [For me, personally, there is one really interesting thing. You're all a bit too young for that, but when you get to a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/for-me-personally-there-is-one-really-interesting-thing-you-re-all-a/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [The mounting burden of taxation not only undermines individual incentives to increased work and earnings, but in a score of ways discourages capital accumulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-mounting-burden-of-taxation-not-only-undermines-individual/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [When the accumulation of wealth is no longer of high social importance, there will be great changes in the code of morals. We shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/when-the-accumulation-of-wealth-is-no-longer-of-high-social/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [The soul lives forever by giving, not receiving. This is the grand paradox. You get most by giving most. Conversely, by receiving much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-johnson/the-soul-lives-forever-by-giving-not-receiving-this-is-the-grand/) [Julian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-johnson/) > [Forgiveness of the present is even more important than forgiveness of the past. If you forgive every moment - allow it to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/forgiveness-of-the-present-is-even-more-important-than-forgiveness-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/too-much-and-too-long-we-seem-to-have-surrendered-community/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) [Browse all 412 Accumulation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accumulation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scientific theories never dictate human values, but they can often cast new light on ethical issues. 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