| Course: | LPS 142W/242; Phil 142W/242; BioSci 142W |
| Name: | Philosophy of Biology |
| Description: | This course will examine the philosophical foundations and implications of evolutionary biology
as well as the role that the biological sciences generally can and/or should play in both our
philosophical and scientific understanding of human beings. Presently scheduled topics include:
Genetics, Race, and Intelligence; Sociobiological Explanations of Human Behavior; Dolly and the
Scientific and Ethical Significance of Cloning; Evolutionary Game Theory; Punctuated Equilibrium;
Kansas' Removal of Evolution from its Schools; Genetic Modification of Foods and Organisms; The
Evolution of Language; The Evolution of Justice and Moral Norms; Cultural Evolution and the Biological
Foundations of Morality; Ethical Challenges of the Human Genome Project. The Instructors for this course will be Francisco Ayala, Bren Professor of Biology and Philosophy (UCI) Brian Skyrms, UCI Distinguished Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science (UCI). The course will include guest lectures by Kyle Stanford, Assistant Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science(UCI) and other distinguished faculty. This course satisfies the Upper Division Writing Requirement. Graduate students are welcome to enroll for graduate credit under (LPS 242/BioSci 242/Philos 242). Texts and Requirements:The texts will be Philosophy of Biology edited by Michael Ruse, Skyrm's Evolution of the Social Contract, and selected photocopied papers. Students will be evaluated on three 1,000 word essays and a final term paper of 4,000 words (satisfying the Upper Division Writing Requirement). |