| Unit name | Philosophy of Biology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL30063 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Okasha |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHIL20046 Realism and Normativity |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit provides a comprehensive overview of all the main topics in contemporary philosophy of biology. No prior biological knowledge is assumed, though students must be prepared to gain familiarity with some basic concepts in evolutionary biology and in genetics. Topics to be studied include the nature of the biological sciences, reductionism versus holism in biology, the structure of evolutionary theory, the levels of selection debate, sociobiology and the question of 'human nature', species and the problem of biological classification, the concept of the gene, the relationship between classical and molecular genetics, and more. In each case the focus is on the conceptual and/or methodological probelms raised by the relevant area of biology.
Statement of Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students should have acquired a deep understanding of central conceptual and philosophical issues within biology, especially evolutionary biology. Students will have an appreciation of why the theory of evolution, in particular, has been the locus of so much philosophical discussion, and will have studied all the main issues in contemporary philosophy of biology, including topics such as units and levels of selection, the nature of species, functions, adaptationism and its critics, and the nature of biological information.
10 x 1hr lectures, 10 x 1hr seminars + revision seminar
3 hr examination
