Andrew Buskell

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

None.

This course introduces issues in bioethics, neuroethics, philosophy of biology, and philosophy of psychology. It demonstrates how philosophical tools can help make sense of the complex problems arising at the intersection of human beings’ evolved nature and the social structures humans have erected. The course will challenge conceptions as to what human beings are, and what we, as human beings, might ultimately be responsible for.

Topics covered include:

Human nature: Does the concept of 'human nature’ have any biological basis? Can we distinguish between those traits that are part of 'human nature' and those which are not? What might the evolutionary history of human beings as social agents have to tell us about ‘human nature’?

Disability: How do we determine whether an individual is disabled or not? Does the recognition of an individual as disabled change their moral status? Does society bear some responsibility for the care of disabled individuals, and in what way?

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?

Responsibility and Social Structure: Are problems with racism, sexism, and disability systemic, societal problems? Or, by contrast, are they the result of biased, racist, and sexist individuals? How are we to enact changes to society on these different conceptions of the root cause(s)?

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

One essay (1,500 words)

Suggested introductory readings:

Brown, G. and Laland, K. (2002) Sense and Nonsense. Oxford University Press.

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

Goodley, D. (2011) Disability Studies. Sage.

King, M.L. ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ Available online: http://www.uscrossier.org/pullias/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/king.pdf

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