Evolution of ideas in Biological Sciences
Theory: 2 hours/week | Tutorials: 1 hour/week | ECTS Units: 3
Tutoring in the English language is offered to Erasmus students
Learning outcomes
The Evolution of Ideas in Biological Sciences has two central aims. First, it offers a survey of the history of the life sciences, beginning with the great civilizations of antiquity (Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Indian, and Chinese) and extending to the present day, while also examining the perspectives of different religious traditions. Second, it seeks to analyze and interpret contemporary societal issues with a biological basis—such as the beginning of human life, theories of evolution, the afterlife, altruism, intelligence, homosexuality, polygamy, incest, determinism, and synthetic biology—through an understanding of how concepts and ideas have been shaped historically..
Syllabus
The course consists of lectures covering the following topics:
Historical Modules
- From antiquity (Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China) to the Middle Ages
- The Renaissance and the scientific revolution
- The Enlightenment (18th century)
- The 19th century
- The 20th century and the major syntheses
Special Topics:
- When does human life begin?
- The human being as a “deficient” living organism
- Theories of Science
- The search for the meaning of life
- Evolution and religion
Student performance evaluation
Student performance is evaluated through:
- Attendance in lectures (A)
- Participation in in-class discussions (P)
- Presentation of a literature-based assignment on a selected topic (L)
- Written examination
Final Grade (F) = 0.3 × A + 0.2 × P + 0.5 × L
If G < 5 a written examination is required.
If G > 5 the written examination can improve the grade.
Suggested bibliography
- Αναζητώντας τη ζωή, Ζαχαρία Σκούρα, Εκδόσεις Ζήτη. ISBN: 978-960-456-456-9.
- Ιστορία της Βιολογίας, Michel Morange, Εκδόσεις UTOPIA. ΙSBN: 978-618-5173-22-7
- Η δομή των θεωριών της βιολογίας, Paul Thompson. Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης. ISBN: 960 524-135-8.
- Φιλοσοφία της Βιολογίας, Peter Godfrey-Smith. Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης. ISBN: 978-960 524-458-3.
Related scientific journals:
- The American Naturalist (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/an/current)
- Perspectives in Biology and Medicine (https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/perspectives-biology-and-medicine)
- Trends in Ecology and Evolution (http://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/home)
- Biology and Philosophy (https://link.springer.com/journal/10539)
- Journal of the History of Biology (https://link.springer.com/journal/10739)
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturers
Kostas Mathiopoulos (Course Coordinator)
