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PHL249: Biology, Mind and Culture
This unit is devoted to examining the ways in which evolutionary biology can shed light on the nature of the human mind and culture. The unit 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 unit, however, involves investigating extensions of evolutionary theory to the explanation of human mind and culture. The unit examines recent theories of cultural evolution, evolutionary epistemology, and evolutionary psychology. A special study is made of the ambitions and limitations of socio-biology: in particular, of socio-biological explanations of human sexual and ethical behaviour.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | 2012 - Next offered in 2012 |
| Staff Contact(s): | Professor Peter Menzies |
| Prerequisites: |
12cp or admission to GDipPhil |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | PHIL249 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Philosophy |
Timetable Information
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