Jonathan Birch

This course is available on the BSc in Philosophy and Economics and BSc in Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

This course examines, from a philosophical perspective, the ways in which recent developments in genetics and neuroscience challenge our conceptions of what we are — and what we could become.

Topics covered include:

Human nature: Does the concept of 'human nature’ have any biological basis? Can we distinguish between those traits which are part of 'human nature' and those which are not? And is ‘human nature’ fixed, or can it be altered by technological means?

Sex and gender: Are ‘sex' and ‘gender' the same thing? Are gender categories natural or social? Are there robust psychological differences between men and women? If so, are they explained by genes or by culture? And should we reconcile ourselves to these differences, or should we try to eliminate them?

Race: Do races exist? Is there any objective biological basis for racial categorization, or are races socially constructed? Does the concept of ‘race' have a future, or will human societies soon become racially undifferentiated?

Free will and responsibility: Has neuroscience debunked the notion of ‘free will’? If so, can we still be held responsible for our actions? Should neuroscientific data be used to predict—and prevent—wrongdoing?

Right and wrong: Has neuroscience shown that morality is more a matter of emotion than reason? Can we use neuroscience to help us choose between ethical theories, and to help us improve our own behaviour?

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT.

Students are required to submit two 1,500 word essays, one of which will be a draft of the assessed essay.

Suggested introductory reading:

Fine, C. (2011) Delusions of Gender. Icon Books.

James, M. (2011) “Race”, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [URL: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/race/].

Prinz, J. J. (2012) Beyond Human Nature. Penguin.

Greene, J. D. (2014) Moral Tribes. Atlantic Books.

Exam (67%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (33%, 1500 words).