Postgraduate Course: Philosophical Issues in Evolution MSc (PHIL11083)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course will offer detailed seminars on key philosophical issues in evolution and evolutionary theory. No background in biology or life-sciences will be assumed, and the course is intended to be accessible to students with a wide range of philosophical interests and aptitudes.
Shared with UG course PHIL10106 Philosophical Issues in Evolution
Taught by Dr Alasdair Richmond and Dr Suilin Lavelle
Unfortunately due to high demand, this course is not available for auditing purposes.
Formative feedback:
- opportunity to submit a formative essay by week 6
- MSc-only advice session approximately two weeks before the hand-in date for summative essays |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: 7 |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who take this course should be equipped to explore, discuss and analyse philosophical issues in the development, history and methodology of theories of evolution by mans of natural selection, and thereby acquire confidence in dealing with these issues. In particular, they should be enabled to explore critically topics that include the following:
* The mechanisms of evolution and the unit of natural selection
* The status of Darwinism as a scientific theory
* The conflict (or otherwise) between Darwinism and Design
* The explanatory scope of adaptationism
* The forces of contingency and convergence in natural selection |
Assessment Information
One 2,500 word essay
Assignment deadline: Monday 14th April 2014, 12 noon
Word limit: 2500 maximum
Return deadline: Tuesday 6th May 2014 |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alasdair Richmond
Tel: (0131 6)50 3656
Email: A.Richmond@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
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