Fall 2003

IS 360: Survival of the Fittest

(MW) 11:00-11:50, SL 0209; (F) 11:00-12:50 SL 3218

 

 

 

 

Prof. Annette Baich, BIOL                                                    Prof. William S. Larkin, PHIL

Office: SL 3325                                                                         Office: PH 2207

Hours: MW, 10:00-10:50                                                            Hours: MW 1:00-1:50

Phone: 650-2338                                                                        Phone: 650-2643

e-mail: abaich@siue.edu                                                            e-mail: wlarkin@siue.edu

 

 

 

 

I.                   Course Description

The primary objective of this course is to understand the evidential basis and explanatory power of Darwin’s theory of evolution and to critically examine that theory’s potential implications for meaning, mind, and morality.  Along with acquiring a thorough grounding in evolutionary thinking, students will survey the landscape of such perennial philosophical issues as the mind-body problem, free will, personal identity, and the nature of morality.  Through a reading of scientific, philosophical, and literary texts, students will explore the relationship between the scientific and folk-theoretic images of human nature and be encouraged to rationally reflect on what it is to be a human animal.  The secondary objective of the course is to learn and practice observational, experimental, and critical thinking skills.

 

      

II.                Texts

A.     Rental Texts

1.       Darwin, Charles, The Origin of Species. (OS)

2.       Diamond, Jared, Why Sex is Fun. (WSF)

3.       Swift, Jonathan, Gulliver’s Travels. (GT)

4.       Vonnegut, Kurt, Gallapagos (G)

 

B.     Course Packets [CP(A) and CP(B)]: There will be 2 packets of photocopied readings handed out in class during the first two weeks.

 

C.     Library Reserve

Kafka, Franz, Metamorphosis (M)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

III.             Course Requirements

    1. Quizzes

At the beginning of every week there will be a quiz on the readings assigned for that week as well as on the lecture/discussion material of the previous week.

                The cumulative quiz grade will be worth 30% of the semester grade.

 

    1. Discussion Group Reports

Every Wednesday there will be a topic/question presented for discussion in small groups.  Each group will write up a single brief report of the group’s response(s), signed by every participating group member.

Discussion group participation will be worth 10% of the semester grade.

 

    1. Labs

Every Friday designated groups will meet to do a lab.  There will be 5 labs over the course of the semester for which you will have to write up a lab report in your notebook.

                The cumulative lab grade will be worth 20% of the semester grade.

 

    1. Paper #1

Students will be required to write a 5-7 pp. paper on the following topic:

Compare and contrast the views of human identity in Swift (GT) and Kafka (M).  Be sure to include a discussion of evolutionary ideas and the conflict between folk-theoretic and scientific views of human nature.

The first paper will be due in class, Monday, September 29th.  The first paper grade will be worth 20% of the semester grade.

 

    1. Paper #2

Students will be required to write a 5-7pp. paper on the following topic:

Compare and contrast ideas of human nature in Swift (GT) and Vonnegut (G), focusing on the question of whether you would rather be a Yahoos or one of Vonnegut’s ‘new humans’.  Be sure to include a discussion of evolutionary ideas as they relate to intelligence, free will, and morality.

The second paper will be due in class, Monday, November 10th.  The second paper grade will be worth 20% of the semester grade.

 

 

IV.              (Great) Expectations

Genuine learning requires active participation and two-way communication.  Students are not merely empty vessels waiting to be filled up with information—they come to this course with various backgrounds, beliefs, skills, and talents.  Our goal is (1) to incorporate some new concepts, ideas, and perspectives into students’ pre-existing knowledge base, and (2) to help students acquire and hone certain skills. 

It is expected that you will help facilitate this process by taking an active role in your own learning process.  Only with your active participation can genuine learning occur, and only genuine learning will insure success in the course.  We expect you to take an active role in class by taking notes, participating in discussion, asking questions, and providing feedback on your progress.  No behavior that manifests a lack of respect for others or their learning objectives will be tolerated.  It is absolutely crucial that everyone feel comfortable stating and defending his or her own views.  Outside of class you are expected to keep up on the assigned readings, complete writing and lab assignments, review notes, and see us in office hours whenever a question or problem arises.  We also want to encourage you to get together with fellow students to discuss the material in the course and to read related material.  We are more than willing to help with either of those projects in any way we can.

 

V.                 Academic Dishonesty

No kind or degree of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating or plagiarism) will be tolerated.  Any such behavior on any assignment will certainly result in failing that assignment, will probably result in failing the course, and may require more drastic measures through official channels.  

 

VI.              Weekly Schedule

 

Week

Reading Assignment

 

 

Lectures

Lab

1

 

BIO: Diversity

PHIL:  Critical Thinking

Observation:

Group 1 and half  Group 2

2

GT: Voyage to the Land of the H

CP(A): Olson, “Psychology and Personal Identity”

BIO: Diversity and Unity

PHIL: Personal Identity

Observation:

Other half Group 2 and Group 3

3

OS: Chapter 1

 

BIO: Origin

PHIL: The Meaning of Life I

Survival of the Fittest:

Group 1

4

OS: Chapter 2

 

BIO: Origin

PHIL: The Meaning of Life II

Survival of the Fittest:

Group 2

5

OS: Chapter 3

 

BIO: Origin

PHIL: Folk-Theoretic vs. Scientific Image

Survival of the Fittest:

Group 3

6

OS: Chapter 4

 

PAPER #1 DUE

BIO: Origin

PHIL: Conflicting Images of Human Nature

DNA:

Group 1

7

OS: Chapter 7

CP(A): Chuchland

BIO: Origin

PHIL: The Mind-Body Problem

DNA:

Group 2

8

CP(A): Ridley, “Free Will”

CP(A): Ayer

BIO: Biological Determinism (?)

PHIL: The Problem of Free Will

DNA:

Group 3

9

WSF: Chapters 1-3

CP(B): Rachels, “From Spenser to Sociobiology”

BIO: Sex

PHIL: Evolution and Ethics

Bacteria:

Group 1

10

WSF: Chapters 4-6

CP(B): Flanagan, “Ethics as Human Ecology”

BIO: Sex

PHIL: Naturalizing Ethics

Bacteria:

Group 2

11

WSF: Chapter 7

CP(B): Flanagan, “Three Burdens of Ethical Ecology”

BIO: Sex

PHIL: Naturalizing Ethics

 

Bacteria:

Group 3

12

CP(A): Ridley, “Self-Interest”

CP(B): Wright, “Evolutionary Ethics”

 

PAPER #2 DUE

BIO: Self-Interest

PHIL: Utilitarianism and Altruism

 

Prisoner’s Dilemma:

Group 1

13

CP(A): Ridley, “Instinct”

CP(B): Rachels “Are Humans Morally Special?”

BIO: Animals and Humans

PHIL: Human Dignity

Prisoner’s Dilemma:

Group 2

14

CP(A): Ridley, “Intelligence”

CP(B): Singer, “All Animals are Equal”

BIO: Animals and Humans

PHIL: The Moral Status of Non-Human Animals

Prisoner’s Dilemma:

Group 3

15

 

Lecture Wrap-Up

Lab Wrap-Up:

All groups

 

 

 

 

 

I the undersigned have read and understood the syllabus for IS 360, Fall 2003; and I accept the conditions and responsibilities described therein for participation in that course.

 

 

 

 

Name (Please print)__________________________________________________

 

 

 

Signature___________________________________________________________

 

 

Date___________________________