Evolution & Ethics
Historical, biological, and philosophical perspectives
Inter-disciplinary Research Master’s Seminar in Philosophy,
Evolutionary Biology, and Intellectual History
Prof. Dr. J.J. Bolhuis (behavioural biology)
Prof. Dr. Mr. Herman Philipse (university professor)
Institute:
Philosophy
Credits:
Level:
Course type:
7,5 ECTS
Course code:
Master
Period:
seminar
Taught subject: History &
Philosophy of Science, Ethics,
Evolutionary Biology,
Intellectual History
WBMD4075
1&2
Part of programme: research master’s in philosophy (theoretical philosophy & ethics &
history of philosophy) &
research master’s in history and philosophy of science &
research master’s in biology & any other research master’s programme if permitted by
the board of studies of the programme
Language:
Remarks:
English
Students of all research master’s programmes in the sciences,
history, anthropology, and philosophy, are welcome to
participate. Sufficient mastery of English is required.
Description: In Chapter 5 of The Descent of Man (1871), Darwin
claimed that the rudimentary moral qualities of humans have spread in
the population by an evolutionary mechanism of group selection. From
the 1870s onwards, many different views on the relation between ethics
and evolution have been proposed by scientists, philosophers, and
politicians. Moreover, evolutionary theorists have invented and tested
several mechanisms by which ‘moral’ inclinations such as ‘altruism’ may
have evolved. In this research seminar for Master’s students (teaching
periods 1 & 2, September-December 2007) we shall explore some of the
historical episodes of the debate and introduce students to the interdisciplinary research that is now going on. Professor Philipse will then
give a series of lectures on ‘Ethics and Evolution’ during teaching period
3 (Studium Generale, February-March, 2008), which are open to the
general public.
Co-ordinator:
Lecturer(s):
Instruction: seminar
Philipse <Herman.Philipse@phil.uu.nl>
Prof. Dr. J.J. Bolhuis & Prof. Dr. Mr. H. Philipse (and guest
lecturers)
Details: students will have to prepare 70-100 pages
per week and to give an oral presentation at least
once. The following capacities will be trained:
summarizing complex materials, distinguishing and
combining different points of view on these materials,
criticizing and inventing historical and philosophical
arguments, discussion in a group, bibliographical
research, etc., and, primarily, to enjoy intellectual
work.
Examination:
essay, deadline February 1, 2008.
Essential reading: Leonard D. Katz, ed., Evolutionary Origins of Morality. CrossDisciplinary Perspectives (Imprint Academic, 2000) + photocopies of articles provided by
the lecturers.
Recommended materials: Paul Lawrence Farber, The Temptations of Evolutionary
Ethics (University of California Press, 1994, 1998; an accessible history of evolutionary
ethics in the Anglo-American world); Frans de Waal, Primates and Philosophers. How
Morality Evolved (Princeton University Press, 2006: a good warming up).
Costs: not much
Not known yet