The Logic of Natural Selection –Introduction to Philosophy of Biology

The course presents the fundamental concepts in philosophy of biology and is required background for those interested in getting to know the field or to pursue research in philosophy of biology.

The course focuses on philosophical analysis of concepts related to the theory of natural selection, including: abstract descriptions of natural selection (Lewontin’s criteria, the replicator approach, Price Equation), fitness, adaptation and adaptationism, homology and function.

Time permitting, we will also discuss the species concept and the tree of life, race, cultural evolution, the Selfish Gene paradigm, the levels of selection and the evolution of altruism.