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From Bacteria to Bach. The Evolution of Minds

Vak
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Admission to this course is restricted to BA students in Philosophy, who have successfully completed their first year, and who have also completed at least 10 EC’s of the mandatory components of their second year, including Philosophy of Mind.

Description

Advanced course in the philosophy of mind, focusing on evolutionary psychology. Taking an evolutionary perspective, what can we learn about rationality, communication, culture and consciousness? In this course we will be discussing Daniel Dennett’s newest book, From Bacteria to Bach and Back. The Evolution of Minds (2017).

Course objectives

This course aims to build on the available basic knowledge and understanding in the philosophy of mind to offer students advanced understanding of evolutionary approaches to rationality, communication, culture and consciousness.

Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:

  • recent work in evolutionary psychology;

  • evolutionary approaches to rationality, communication, culture and consciousness;

  • key problems with evolutionary approaches to mind and culture.

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:

  • read, analyze and criticize philosophical literature;

  • find and digest relevant literature;

  • give a critical presentation of philosophical theories and arguments, and construct position;

  • form a clear research question and design a corresponding research strategy and line of argumentation;

  • give and oral presentation;

  • write a clear argumentative essay.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA Filosofie website

  • BA Filosofie, BA3 – BA Plus-traject and Standaardtraject

Mode of instruction

  • Seminars

Class attendance is required.

Course Load

Total course load 10 EC x 28 hours = 280 hours

  • Class attendance: 13 x 3 = 39 hours

  • Preparing oral presentation: 21 hours

  • Midterm assignment: 20 hours

  • Compulsory readings: ca. 700 pp. = 160 hours

  • Final paper: 40 hours

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Oral presentations (25%)

  • Midterm paper (25%)

  • Term paper (50%)

Weighing

The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average of several subtests. Class participation is a mandatory requirement for taking the test.

Resit

No separate resits will be offered for mid-term tests. The resit will be a paper and the mark will replace all previously earned marks for subtests. No separate resits will be offered for subtests.

Class participation and completion of practical assignments such as the oral presentation is a mandatory requirement for taking the resit. Students who have obtained a satisfactory grade for the first examination cannot take the resit.

Exam review

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for:

  • Additional readings

  • Assignments

  • Announcements

Reading list

  • Daniel C. Dennett, From Bacteria to Bach and Back. The Evolution of Minds (2017).

  • Additional readings will be made available through Blackboard

Registration

Enrolment for courses and exams through uSis is mandatory.

Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetables for courses and exams.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Contact

Dr. Z.A. Rucinska

Remarks

Not applicable.