Philosophical Problems of Science B

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The tutorials are devoted to the issues dominating the philosophy of biology. The status of biology as science is considered, and the biological definitions of life and the main theses of the theory of evolution are discussed. The concepts of gene, species, fitness, and adaptation are analyzed. The controversies over the units and levels of natural selection are investigated, and the place of teleological language in biology is explored. In the course of the tutorials students familiarize themselves with the biological image of human nature and the explanations of the evolution of altruism. The results of the analysis are compared to the philosophical concepts of human nature and social contract. The relations between biology and the problems of normative ethics, metaethics, and religion are scrutinized. Students acquire information about the basic principles of evolutionary psychology and memetics.

The tutorials are devoted to the issues dominating the contemporary philosophy of biology. First, a panorama of themes belonging to the discipline is outlined, and the status of biology as science is entertained, especially in the context of the debate revolving around the possibility of the reduction of all biological explanations to the explanations framed at the level of molecular biology. Next, biological definitions of life are discussed, and both the history and the main – philosophically interesting – theses of the theory of evolution are presented. A careful consideration is given to the concepts of gene, species, fitness, and adaptation as well as to the controversy over the units and levels of natural selection. The debate on the alleged tautological character of the claim that only the fittest will survive is scrutinized. The place of teleological language in biology and its adequate interpretation consistent with the theory of evolution are explored.

The image of human nature that emerges from biological theories and data is considered. Students familiarize themselves with biological explanations which leverage game theory to account for the evolution of altruistic behavior and motives. The results of the analysis are compared to the historical and contemporary philosophical concepts of human nature and social contract. The relevance of biological conclusions and solutions to the problems proper to normative ethics and metaethics is explored. Participants investigate evolutionary explanations of the origin and function of religion, and the views that different religions take on the theory of evolution. Students acquire a basic knowledge of the paradigm of evolutionary psychology and memetics, and of the attempts of the latter to model cultural evolution upon biological evolution.

Dennett, D.C. (1995). “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea”. Ch. 3: “Universal Acid”, pp. 61-84. London - New York: Allen Lane – The Penguin 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.

Coyne, J. A. (2009). “Why Evolution Is True”. Ch. 1: “What Is Evolution?”, pp. 1-20. Oxford – New York: Oxford University 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.

Curtis, R. C. (1986). Are Methodologies Theories of Scientific Rationality?. “The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science” 37 (1), pp. 135-161.

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.

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.

Trivers R. (1971). The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism. “The Quarterly Review of Biology” 46 (1), pp. 35-57.

Dawkins, R. (2006). “The Selfish Gene”, Ch. 5: “Aggression: stability and the selfish machine”, pp. 66-87. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Students:

- have a basic knowledge of the place and role of biology in relation to other natural sciences, and of its subject and methodological specificity

- know basic biological and philosophical terminology in English

- know and understand major concepts, arguments and trends in contemporary philosophy of biology

- know fundamental research methods and argumentative strategies proper to philosophy of biology

- know interpretation methods appropriate for texts devoted to philosophical problems in biology

Students:

- seek, analyze, evaluate, select, and use information from traditional and electronic sources

- read and interpret philosophical papers discussing biological issues

- understand oral presentations of philosophical ideas and arguments

- correctly use philosophical and biological terminology

- analyze philosophical arguments, identify their crucial assumptions and theses

- quote main theses of the investigated philosophical stances, appropriately to their importance

- select argumentative strategies, formulate – on a basic level – critical arguments, reply to criticism

Students:

- know the scope of their knowledge and skills, acknowledge the need for constant education and professional development

- are open to new ideas and ready to change their minds in light of available data and arguments

- organize their work effectively and critically assess their progress

The final exam lasts 2 hours and consists of 10 free-response questions. The maximum score for an answer to an exam question is 2.5 points. The final mark for the tutorials is determined on the basis of the total amount of points earned on the exam. The thresholds are the following:

10.00 pts. – 12.50 pts. = satisfactory (3.0)

12.75 – 15.00 = satisfactory plus (3.5)

15.25 – 17.75 = good (4.0)

18.00 – 20.50 = good plus (4.5)

20.75 – 25.00 = very good (5.0)

The mark can be raised by the tutor by one grade maximum in recognition of the student’s engagement, participation, and constructive contribution to the classes. In case of not earning a minimum of 10 points on the exam, the student has the right to take a retake test. The rules of the retake are the same as those of the final exam.

Permissible number of absences: 2