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Biology, Mind and Culture - PHL249

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
When Offered:

2014 - Next offered in 2014

Staff Contact(s): Dr Richard Menary
Prerequisites:

12cp or admission to GDipArts Prerequisite Information

Corequisites:

NCCW(s): PHIL249
Unit Designation(s):

Science

Unit Type:
Assessed As: Graded
Offered By:

Department of Philosophy

Faculty of Arts

Timetable Information

For unit timetable information and session dates for external offerings please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website