2009 Course Handbook
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: | 2010 - offered in 2010 |
| Staff Contact: | Professor Peter Menzies |
| Prerequisites: | 12cp or admission to GDipPhil |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCWs: | |
| Unit Designations: | Science |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: |
Department of Philosophy |