Module PHL2022 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL2022: Sex and Death: Introduction to the Philosophy of Biology
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
What is evolution?
Evolutionary explanations of human nature
Selfish genes
Altruism and group selection
Adaptation and function
Genes, genetics and molecular biology
Evolution and development
Ecology: biodiversity, niche construction, conservation
Species and the tree of life
Philosophy of biology in practice
Summarizing philosophy of biology; revision; essay and exam discussion
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
16.5 | 133.5 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | The module will be taught and learned via weekly one-and-a-half-hour seminars, which will consist of a |
Guided Independent study | 133.5 | A variety of activities directed by module convener. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
*Sterelny, K., and Griffiths, P. 1999. Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology. University of Chicago Press. [*This is the core text for all lectures.]
Hull, D.L., and Ruse, M. (Eds.). 2007. The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. Cambridge University Press.
Hull, D.L., and Ruse, M. (Eds.). 1998. Philosophy of Biology. Oxford University Press. Matthen, M., and Stephens, C. (Eds.). 2007. Philosophy of Biology. Elsevier.
Ruse, M. (Ed.). 2008. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Biology. Oxford University Press. Sarkar, S., and Plutynski, A. (Eds.). 2008. A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. Blackwell. Indicative web based resources e.g. ELE