PHIL 3370 - Philosophy of Biology

This course is not intended to be a survey of the philosophy of biology. Rather, it will focus on three distinct but related topics. Unit 1 will focus on how biologists study the pattern of evolution, from Darwin to contemporary systematists (phylogeneticists). From this we will develop a powerful theoretical perspective in evolutionary biology, i.e., Tree-Thinking. Along the way we will consider the role natural kinds play (or don't) in biological theory, and consider what constitutes good scientific reasoning. These ideas will be applied in Unit 2, where we will consider contemporary challenges to evolutionary theory from creationalists. In particular, we will critically consider intelligent design, briefly in terms of its relation to traditional scientific creationism, while also carefully evaluating it as a scientific enterprise compared to contemporary evolutionary theory. This will take us to our final Unit: a consideration of what, if any, normative or ethical implications might be drawn from the fact of evolution and the nature (or lack thereof) of species.