The author explores the contributions of three biologists—Ernst Mayr, E. O. Wilson,
and Lynn Margulis—to evolutionary theories of ethics. In particular, how does each relate
his or her view of ethics to naturalistic and humanistic philosophies? A humanistic ethic
could lead to appeals to some sort of \"transcendence\" that is scientifically suspect. Naturalistic ethics, on the other hand, could lead to a sterile view of human culture. Can these two be brought together into some kind of naturalistic humanism? This essay presents some initial steps in this direction, based on a survey of the thought of these scientists
