Introductory Lecture…
Examination:
Exam is multichoice: 50%
In addition there is a course work essay (1500 words): 50%
A good grade tends to reflect the following, more or less in order:
1) A comprehensive answer. An answer covering the major points or most of the major points.
2) An accurate answer. It's not enough to say a lot of correct things; it is just as important to not say
incorrect and inaccurate things; i.e. quality of information not just quantity.
3) A relevant answer. Information that doesn't directly relate to or answer the question doesn't
help.
4) a well-structured answer. An answer that follows a standard essay format with an introduction,
middle, and ending, and good organization of information within paragraphs.
5) A well-written answer. Clear and precise prose, understandable writing, proper use of grammar,
spelling, and punctuation, complete sentences, etc.
Useful book: Evolution by Carl T. Bergstrom & Lee Dugatkin (no set book). Pay no more
than £50.
In 1859, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin was published – a big year for evolution
Premise of lectures:
The Origin represents the single biggest transition in our understanding of evolution and of life and
human history –
By understanding where Darwin was both right and wrong, you should be able to develop a robust
understanding of the process of evolution.
What were the prior ideas?
Depends where you lived: (almost) every cultures has a story about where we come from.
In Protestant England the dominant notion was biblical literalism.
- William Paley and the argument for design: if you find a watch on an island, it must be evidence of
a watchmaker (relationship between form and function). Richard Dawkin’s book ‘The Blind
Watchmaker’ argues that this designer is natural selection.
The Origin presented two ideas that were in conflict
with Biblical literalism:
1. The continuity of species.
- Actually not so very revolutionary – the idea had been discussed before. The idea that all life is
somehow related, and has a common ancestor.
2. Evolution by natural selection – the “survival of the fittest” – an explanation for why things have a
relationship between form and function, without a “designer”.
- There are antecedents to this idea as well.
Natural selection was understood before Darwin:
James Hutton - Investigation of the Principles of Knowledge (1794)
- lays out a clear argument for a process of change by natural selection, and does so through analogy
with the process of artificial selection.
Examination:
Exam is multichoice: 50%
In addition there is a course work essay (1500 words): 50%
A good grade tends to reflect the following, more or less in order:
1) A comprehensive answer. An answer covering the major points or most of the major points.
2) An accurate answer. It's not enough to say a lot of correct things; it is just as important to not say
incorrect and inaccurate things; i.e. quality of information not just quantity.
3) A relevant answer. Information that doesn't directly relate to or answer the question doesn't
help.
4) a well-structured answer. An answer that follows a standard essay format with an introduction,
middle, and ending, and good organization of information within paragraphs.
5) A well-written answer. Clear and precise prose, understandable writing, proper use of grammar,
spelling, and punctuation, complete sentences, etc.
Useful book: Evolution by Carl T. Bergstrom & Lee Dugatkin (no set book). Pay no more
than £50.
In 1859, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin was published – a big year for evolution
Premise of lectures:
The Origin represents the single biggest transition in our understanding of evolution and of life and
human history –
By understanding where Darwin was both right and wrong, you should be able to develop a robust
understanding of the process of evolution.
What were the prior ideas?
Depends where you lived: (almost) every cultures has a story about where we come from.
In Protestant England the dominant notion was biblical literalism.
- William Paley and the argument for design: if you find a watch on an island, it must be evidence of
a watchmaker (relationship between form and function). Richard Dawkin’s book ‘The Blind
Watchmaker’ argues that this designer is natural selection.
The Origin presented two ideas that were in conflict
with Biblical literalism:
1. The continuity of species.
- Actually not so very revolutionary – the idea had been discussed before. The idea that all life is
somehow related, and has a common ancestor.
2. Evolution by natural selection – the “survival of the fittest” – an explanation for why things have a
relationship between form and function, without a “designer”.
- There are antecedents to this idea as well.
Natural selection was understood before Darwin:
James Hutton - Investigation of the Principles of Knowledge (1794)
- lays out a clear argument for a process of change by natural selection, and does so through analogy
with the process of artificial selection.
