Academic Catalog

PHIL529 PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY

Course Code: 2410529
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): 3(3-0)
ECTS Credit: 8.0
Department: Philosophy
Language of Instruction: English
Level of Study: Masters
Course Coordinator: Prof.Dr. AYHAN SOL
Offered Semester: Fall Semesters.

Course Content

This course offers a survey and critical examination of basic issues in the philosophy of biology: a brief history of biology and the philosophy of biology; the nature of evolutionary theory, with special reference to the status of natural selection; the rise of genetics; the scientific status of evolutionary theory; biological teleology; the implications of biology for human kind; the problem of reduction; the significance of Human Genome Project; challenges to the adaptationist programme; ethical and social issues, including the status of neo-Creationism(Intelligent Design).