Living organisms are remarkably different from inanimate objects. They are purposeful, complex, and adapted to their environment. These properties of living organisms raise several sets of intriguing philosophical questions. First, what is the nature of life? What makes living organisms different and why? Is it conceptually necessary that life be carbon-based, or could artificially created machines and programs be alive? Second, what is necessary in order to explain the variety, complexity, and adaptation of living organisms? Is the process of natural selection sufficient or must we appeal to some intelligent designer? Third, why has evolutionary theory been called a great intellectual achievement and not just a scientific one?

In this course, we will focus for the most part on evolutionary theory and consider some of its implications on the following issues: (a) To what extend genes determine our behavior? (b) who are the primary players and beneficiaries of the evolutionary process? Species, groups, organisms, or genes? (c) What counts as biological individual? (d) How can altruism be the product of the selfish behaviors which seem to be encouraged by natural selection? What are the implications of evolutionary theory for moral for moral philosophy? (f) Can evolutionary explanations be applied and, if so, to what effect, to the investigation of human psychology and cultural changes (as claimed, respectively, by evolutionary psychology and memetics). 

Readings: Sterelny & Griffiths's "Sex and Death"; Dennett's Darwin's Dangerous Idea" and a selection of recent paper. Further information available at http://www.uwm.edu/~ferrero. No biology background is required. Students majoring in biology or related disciplines should contact the instructor about waiving the philosophy credits requirement.

 

Kim Sterelny & Paul E. Griffiths Sex and Death. An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology. University of Chicago Press	R B
Daniel Dennett, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Simon and Schuster (check corrections made by Dennett after publication at http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/papers/errors.html)	R B
See Syllabus for extra required readings for both Undergraduates and Graduates

 

Elliott Sober. Philosophy of Biology, Westview Press	R
David Hull, Michael Ruse (eds). Philosophy of Biology, Oxford University Press (hereafter HR)	O
Ridley, M. (ed.) Evolution. Oxford University Press	O
Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden	R
Keller and Lloyd (eds) Keywords in Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Press	R

Readings marked with B are available at the UWM bookstore
Readings marked with O are available online
Readings marked with R are on reserve at the Golda Meir Library

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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING POLICY

UNDERGRADUATES

Assessment of Participation in the Learning Process (30 %)
2 Outlines and Presentations of required readings (450-600 words each)	5% each
Class participation (attendance and participation in class discussion)	10%
Peer Commentaries in the writing workshop	10%
Assessment of Factual Learning (30%)
3 In-class Tests	10% each
Assessment of Critical Reflection on Course Material (40%)
Final Paper (2400-3000 words / approximately 8-10 pages)	40%

FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
[please note that Graduate Students have additional reading requirements to be announced in class]

2 Outlines and Presentations of Readings especially required of Grad. Students	5% each
Class participation	10%
Peer Commentaries in the writing workshop	10%
3 take-home tests	10% each
Final Research Paper (3600-4500 words // approximately 12-15 pages)	40%

 

• Attendance to lectures and writing workshops is mandatory
  
• PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS BY THE DEADLINES indicated above. All late papers will be marked 1 grade down for each day or portion thereof that they are late, including weekends and holidays (for instance, if a paper is due on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and it is turned in on Wed at 5.00 p.m., it will be penalized two full grades). The penalty applies BOTH to the first and the final draft of each paper (e.g., if you turn both the first and the final draft one day late, your will be penalized 2 full grades).
  
• In order to pass this course you MUST COMPLETE ALL assignments. You must take the in-class tests, participate in the writing workshops, and turn in both papers.  

click here to see the GRADING GUIDELINES

Please note that PLAGIARISM is a serious instance of Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism includes:

1. Directly quoting the words of others without using quotation marks or indented format to identify them; or,
2. Using sources of information (published or unpublished) without identifying them; or,
3. Paraphrasing materials or ideas of others without identifying the sources.

UWM Policy concerning Plagiarism is available at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html 

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WRITING WORKSHOP

In this class, you are given the opportunity to benefit from the comments of your peers on the first draft of your papers. You must submit the first draft of the paper (at least 1400 words) together with a detailed outline on the first day of the writing workshop. Two or three other students will be assigned to you as commentators. You will meet with them at the writing workshop and discuss with them how to improve your draft. You then have some more days to revise your draft before submitting the final version for grading (for the exact deadlines, see the schedule above). You will also be commenting on the work of two or three other students. You will receive their drafts on the day when your draft is due. You will turn in your written comments at the writing workshop.

Please note that the active participation in the writing workshop is REQUIRED in order to pass the class. Detailed instructions about the writing workshop will be distributed during the term and made available on my homepage at http://www.uwm.edu/~ferrero/writing-workshop.htm

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CLASS REFLECTOR: a class reflector () has been set up up for general announcements. Notice that, if you do not use your ePanther/alpha account regularly, it is your responsibility to make sure that your UWM mail is forwarded to your preferred email account (for instructions on UWM ePanther accounts go to http://www.uwm.edu/IMT/ePanther/).

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Academic Misconduct Policy: see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html

Drop/Audit Policy: Students will be allowed to drop the course up through the last day permitted by the Registrar. Likewise, students may elect to audit the course up through the last day permitted by the Registrar

Grievance and Appeals Policy: The Department of Philosophy has procedures for handling student grievance and grade-appeals. Information is available in the Department office, 612 Curtin Hall

Special Assistance: If you need special assistance, please contact me the first day of class

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