NATURAL SELECTION ACCORDING TO DARWIN

Catalog description

(Slashed with ANTH 48850 ) Darwin’s Origin of Species transformed our understanding of the natural world. Although he was not aware of the biological constituents of inheritance (i.e. genetics and the modern synthesis), his three ingredients for a system of descent with modification – variation, inheritance, and sorting – were wildly influential. This course will not only explore how Darwin understood his monumental theory, but also show that Darwin’s original proposal explains both biological and cultural evolution. Students will gain an understanding of how Darwin’s theory provided a foundation for modern anthropological thought and continues to inform anthropological queries.