Macquarie logo.
Macquarie University - Australia's Innovative University.

2007 Handbooks

Search the Handbooks for:

  
Search tips
About the Handbooks


Handbook of Undergraduate Studies 2007


Handbook of Postgraduate Studies 2007


Calendar of Governance, Legislation and Rules 2007


Other years:

PHIL249: Biology, Mind, and Culture

This course is devoted to examining the ways in which evolutionary biology can shed light on the nature of the human mind and culture. The course begins with an introduction to evolutionary theory and a discussion of some foundational issues concerning its nature and structure. What is fitness? What is adaptationism? What is the unit of selection? A substantial part of the course, however, will be taken up with investigating extensions of evolutionary theory to the explanation of human mind and culture. The course will examine recent theories of cultural evolution, evolutionary epistemology, and evolutionary psychology. A special study will be made of the ambitions and limitations of sociobiology: in particular, of sociobiological explanations of human sexual and ethical behaviour.

Credit Points:4
Contact Hours:3
When Offered: 2008 - Offered in 2008
Staff Contact: Professor Menzies
Prerequisites:

12cp or admission to GDipPhil

Corequisites:

NCCWs:

Unit Designations: Social Science
Science
Assessed As: Graded
Offered By: Department of Philosophy

 
Unit Web Pages
   Blackboard CE6

Timetable
   No timetable available.
Australia's Innovative University.