Final answer:
According to Darwin, evolutionary ethics pertain to human societies and the development of moral standards through advanced reasoning and sympathy, potentially leading to inherited virtuous tendencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Darwin, evolutionary ethics only apply to human societies, particularly regarding the development of moral standards through the advancement of reasoning, sympathy, habit, and reflection. Darwin believed that our moral nature improves through these means and that virtuous tendencies might be inherited over time.
However, the study of evolutionary ethics has been controversial, particularly because of its misunderstanding in Social Darwinism, which incorrectly applies biological evolution principles to justify social hierarchies and inequalities.