— Introduction to Philosophy of Biology

Prerequisites & course information

This version has ended; see updated course, below. Course Description: Non-technical introduction to philosophical, social, and scientific ideas, methods and technologies in contemporary biological fields such as evolution, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, behavior. Philosophical consideration of determinism, reductionism, explanation, theory, modeling, observation, experimentation. Evaluation of scientific explanations of human nature. Learning Activities: Lecture 3 hour(s), Discussion 1 hour(s). Grade Mode: Letter. General Education: Arts & Humanities (AH) or Science & Engineering (SE); Scientific Literacy (SL); Writing Experience (WE). PHI 038 — Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (4 units) Course Description: Non-technical introduction to philosophical, social, and scientific ideas, methods and technologies in contemporary biological fields such as evolution, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, behavior. Philosophical consideration of determinism, reductionism, explanation, theory, modeling, observation, experimentation. Evaluation of scientific explanations of human nature. Learning Activities: Lecture 3 hour(s), Discussion 1 hour(s). Grade Mode: Letter. General Education: Arts & Humanities (AH) or Science & Engineering (SE); Scientific Literacy (SL). This course version is effective from, and including: Fall Quarter 2026. Learning Activities: Lecture 3 hour(s), Discussion 1 hour(s). Grade Mode: Letter. General Education: Arts & Humanities (AH) or Science & Engineering (SE); Scientific Literacy (SL); Writing Experience (WE). PHI 038 — Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (4 units) Course Description: Non-technical introduction to philosophical, social, and scientific ideas, methods and technologies in contemporary biological fields such as evolution, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, behavior. Philosophical consideration of determinism, reductionism, explanation, theory, modeling, observation, experimentation. Evaluation of scientific explanations of human nature. Learning Activities: Lecture 3 hour(s), Discussion 1 hour(s). Grade Mode: Letter. General Education: Arts & Humanities (AH) or Science & Engineering (SE); Scientific Literacy (SL). This course version is effective from, and including: Fall Quarter 2026.