Evolutionary Philosophy

Catalog description

Humans are animals that have evolved. This has been known for nearly two centuries, but it has barely yet made a difference to philosophical thinking about human life. This course will explore how we should think differently in light of this knowledge. In its first half, we will examine Darwin and Nietzsche, whose accounts of life are in many ways similar but diverge over whether there is a life-force at work in the world or the world is merely matter operating according to laws. In its second half, we will look at recent efforts (particularly in evolutionary psychology) to incorporate their insights into a scientifically credible and philosophically useful account of human life. Topics of special interest will include: power, status, mating, gender, emotions, and reason.