Subject: Phil 456, Philosophy of Biology II spring 2015



Description:

Phil 456, Philosophy of Biology II, Spring 2014

Thursday 3:30-5:10pm in Skinner 1115; ELMS: 1 hour on line activities/week



Instructor: Lindley Darden, Professor of Philosophy & Distinguished

Scholar/Teacher [log in to unmask]

Official Prerequisites: Official: Phil 256 or Phil 250 or life science major

or permission of instructor.

Unofficial advice:  Premed students and life science minors are encouraged to

take the course. Philosophy majors and others with no prior knowledge of

biology are not encouraged to take the course; Phil 256 is more appropriate.



Topics in the philosophy of the biological sciences



Mechanisms: What is a biological mechanism? How are models of mechanisms

constructed, evaluated, and revised?  How are models of mechanisms used for

explanation, prediction, and control (e.g., of disease)?



Conceptual problems in evolutionary theory:  What is evolution?  What is

selection? What was Charles Darwin's original formulation of the theory of

natural selection? Is natural selection a mechanism of evolutionary change?

What is an adaptation? What is fitness?



Reduction: Can biology be reduced to chemistry/physics?  Are there laws in

biology?



Conceptual issues in genetics and molecular biology: What is a gene? What is

the central dogma of molecular biology?  What is the concept of information

in molecular biology? What is the relation between Mendelian genetics and

molecular biology?



Philosophy of medicine: What role should knowledge of biological mechanisms

vs. evidence from randomized clinical trials play in evidenced-based

medicine?



The course is a combination of lecture and discussion and online activities.

Critical thinking and writing and discussion are emphasized.





Contact Person: Lindley Darden

Contact Email: [log in to unmask]