Dr Ella Whiteley and Dr Michael Diamond-Hunter

This course is available on the MSc in Economics and Philosophy, MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy, MSc in Philosophy of Science and MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

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? Should we attempt to improve human nature by means of technologies such as gene editing?

Gender and the brain: 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 these 'hardwired' into the brain or the product of socialization? Are our brains either ‘male’ or ‘female’, or are they ‘intersex’?

Race and the genome: Do races exist? Is there any objective biological basis for racial categorization, or are races socially constructed? Does the concept of ‘race' have a legitimate role in medicine?

Animals and people: What is the evidence for animal sentience? What are the ethical issues surrounding the use of animals in biomedical research? If we could reduce animal suffering through gene editing, should we? Do some non-human animals have ‘personhood’?

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? Should neuroscience inform the decision-making of our legal system? Can it be used to help us improve our own moral behaviour?

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT.

Lectures: Weeks 1-5 and 7-11

Seminars: Weeks 1-5 and 7-11

A critical analysis exercise (1000 words)

Suggested introductory readings:

• Glover, J. (2008) Choosing Children.
• Jordan-Young, R. (2010) Brain Storm.
• James, M. (2011) “Race”, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [online]
• Greene, J. D. (2013) Moral Tribes.

Essay (50%, 2000 words) in the MT.
Essay (50%, 2000 words) in the LT.

There is no exam for this half-unit. There will be two summative essays, each worth 50% of the final mark. 

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