Be sure to bring the following downloads with you to the first class:21.4.09Darwin as an ethical inspirationWe will discuss these in class.
Brainteaser
We'll have a look at the following essay in the next class, so please download it. Actually it does not really follow in the order I wanted, but I haven't finished writing some logically previous material yet. Keep looking out for it!25.4.09The Act of Creation
I've finished my essay about ancestors now, so here it is for you to download - a lot of it we talked about in class, but there are additional points in it, so please read it carefully and bring it with you the next time.13.5.09Ancestors
Here are my suggestions about criticising Koester - we can talk about them on Friday. Look out for another handout before Friday's class too!15.5.09Criticising Koestler
Here are the first couple of pages of a new handout on evolution, the emotions, and intelligence. I hope you get a chance to download it before class today!2.6.09Evolution, emotions, intelligence
Here is that other file for you to download. Look out for more before Friday!2.6.09 (later)Intelligence and reasoning
Next time I'd like to start the new topic of determinism, indeterminism, and free will. Please download the following Wikipedia article, and bring it with you on Friday!5.6.09Determinism
As well as that article on determinism, we should have a look at the following excellent review of Daniel Dennett's "Freedom Evolves" (Viking Penguin, 2003):6.6.09Kenan Malik on Dennett's determinism
Here is the link to my essay on consciousness, basically a summary of Daniel Dennett's views:13.6.09ConsciousnessPlease read it and have a think about it for the next assignment. Suggestions about what the assignment should contain are given at the end of the essay. If you have any problems with it, ask in next week's class!
Just today I found a wonderful web site with illustrations of visual illusions. None of them are exactly the same as the phi phenomenon we talked about in class, but they serve the purpose of showing vividly that parts of our brains act autonomously and can fool us. Try them out:16.6.09http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Modules/MC10220/visper08.html
Cutaneous baby frogs, perhaps? I couldn't resist posting that picture from today's Daily Telegraph, copyright AFP/Getty. The frogs are being held by a man in Colombia.
Here are some notes of mine on determinism. Please bring along a copy on Friday, so that we can go through them then.26.6.09Determinism
Humble apologies!!15.7.09
I forgot to upload this revision of the page to my web site - please put it down to rainy season forgetfulness, and not to senility! Anyway, the downloads are available here now for next Friday, 3rd July.
Some notes on determinism:Indeterminismand also this on the concept of the meme:Dawkins on memetics
We'll be doing more about memes on Friday, of course, but I think I will postpone the deadline for the critical summary to 31st July, the last class, if that is OK. That will give more time to think about them. Meanwhile the following essay of mine will be useful:What memes are good for
Assignments
The title and the due date are shown:| Summary of the Darwin article | 24.4.09 |
| Does Koestler's theory of "bisociation" work? I realised after class that that topic is a bit tough! I'll post some suggestions about it on this page in a couple of days. Those suggestions are now posted above. |
22.5.09 |
| My views of Dennett's theory of mind (consciousness) |
19.6.09 |
|
Critical summary of Dawkins' idea of the meme |
31.7.09 |