Philosophical Problems of Science A 3800-ISP-PPSA-23
The tutorials are devoted to key issues in contemporary philosophy of biology. They begin with an overview of the main themes within the discipline and a discussion of the status of biology as a science. Biological definitions of life are examined, followed by an exploration of the history and the philosophically significant theses of the theory of evolution. Particular attention is given to the concepts of gene, species, fitness, adaptation, and function, as well as to the ongoing controversy over the units and levels of natural selection. The debate concerning the alleged tautological nature of the claim that "only the fittest survive" is critically assessed. Methodological aspects of the Darwinian revolution and the role of teleological language in biological explanation are also explored.
The tutorials consider the image of human nature that emerges from biological theories and empirical data. Students become familiar with biological accounts of the evolution of altruistic behavior and motivation, particularly those drawing on game theory. These accounts are compared with both historical and contemporary philosophical concepts of human nature and theories of the social contract. The relevance of biological findings for questions in normative ethics and metaethics is examined in depth. Participants also investigate evolutionary explanations for the origin and function of religion, as well as the varying responses of different religious traditions to the Darwinian theory of evolution. Finally, students gain a basic understanding of the paradigm of evolutionary psychology and of memetics, including attempts to model cultural evolution on biological principles.
Rodzaj przedmiotu
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Efekty kształcenia
Students:
- have a basic understanding of the place and role of biology in relation to other natural sciences, as well as of its subject matter and methodological specificity;
- are familiar with basic biological and philosophical terminology in English;
- understand major concepts, arguments, and trends in contemporary philosophy of biology;
- are acquainted with fundamental research methods and argumentative strategies characteristic of the philosophy of biology;
- know appropriate methods for interpreting texts concerning philosophical issues in biology.
Students:
- search for, analyze, evaluate, select, and use information from both traditional and electronic sources;
- read and interpret philosophical texts addressing biological issues;
- understand oral presentations of philosophical ideas and arguments;
- accurately use philosophical and biological terminology;
- analyze philosophical arguments, identifying their key assumptions and theses;
- clearly articulate the main theses of the philosophical positions under discussion, in accordance with their relevance;
- choose appropriate argumentative strategies, formulate basic critical arguments, and respond to criticism.
Students:
- are aware of the scope of their knowledge and skills, and recognize the need for continuous learning and professional development;
- are open to new ideas and willing to revise their views in light of available evidence and arguments;
- are able to organize their work effectively and critically evaluate their own progress.
Kryteria oceniania
Regular attendance is a necessary condition for receiving credit for the tutorial course. The final exam lasts 2 hours and consists of 8 open-ended questions. Each question is worth a maximum of 2.5 points, for a total of 20 points. The final grade is determined based on the total number of points earned on the exam, according to the following scale:
10.00 pts. – 12.00 points: satisfactory (3.0)
12.25 – 14.00 points: satisfactory plus (3.5)
14.25 – 16.00 points: good (4.0)
16.25 – 18.00 points: good plus (4.5)
18.25 – 20.00 points: very good (5.0)
The tutor may raise the final grade by up to two levels in recognition of the student’s engagement, active participation, and constructive contributions during the classes. If a student does not achieve the minimum of 10 points, they are entitled to take a retake exam. The rules of the retake are the same as those of the final exam.
Number of absences: 2
Literatura
“The Cambridge Companion to Darwin”, Hodge, J., Radick, G. (eds), 2009, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
“The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Biology”, Ruse, M. (ed.), 2010, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Charlesworth, B. & D. (2017).”Evolution. A Very Short Introduction”. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Coyne, J. A. (2009). “Why Evolution Is True”. Ch. 1: “What Is Evolution?”, pp. 1-20. Oxford – New York: Oxford University Press.
Curtis, R. C. (1986). Are Methodologies Theories of Scientific Rationality?. “The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science” 37 (1), pp. 135-161.
Dawkins, R. (2006). “The Selfish Gene”, Ch. 5: “Aggression: stability and the selfish machine”, pp. 66-87. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dennett, D.C. (1995). “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea”. Ch. 3: “Universal Acid”, pp. 61-84. London - New York: Allen Lane – The Penguin Press.
Gould. S. J. (1994). “Evolution as Fact and Theory”. In: Id., “Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes”, pp. 253-262. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Gould. S. J. (2010). “Darwin’s Untimely Burial”. In: A. Rosenberg & R. Arp (eds.), “Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology”, pp. 99-102. Chichester – Malden, MA – Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Kitcher, Ph. (2006). “Four Ways of ‘Biologicizing’ Ethics”. In: E. Sober (ed.), “Conceptual Issues in Evolutionary Biology”, pp. 573-586. Cambridge, Mass.-London: Bradford Books, The MIT Press.
Okasha, S. (2019). “Philosophy of Biology. A Very Short Introduction”. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rosenberg, A. & Arp, R. (2010). “General Introduction: A Short History of Philosophy of Biology”. In: A. Rosenberg & R. Arp (eds.), “Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology”, pp. 1-13. Chichester – Malden, MA – Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Ruse, M. (1989). “Darwin’s Debt to Philosophy”. In Id.: “The Darwinian Paradigm”, pp. 9-33. London - New York: Routledge.
Singer, P. (2005). Ethics and Intuitions. “The Journal of Ethics” 9, pp. 331-352.
Trivers R. (1971). The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism. “The Quarterly Review of Biology” 46 (1), pp. 35-57.
Wood, B. (2019). “Human Evolution. A Very Short Introduction”. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: