Animal Minds
PHIL 357
Fall 2007
| Section:
01
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| This course may be repeated for credit. |
Can nonhuman primates, particularly great apes, engage in moral reasoning? Do they act ethically? What can other primates tell us about the origins of human ethical practice? Perhaps ethical reasoning is unique to our own species. It requires, for example, considerable social intelligence, including the ability to see oneself in another's position, the ability to be introspective about one's own behavior, and the ability to form, nurture, and maintain complex social relationships in which the well-being of one's friends and associates is an essential component. Nevertheless, apparent examples of caring and empathetic behavior do exist, not only in other apes, but in monkeys and even in nonprimate species. In contrast, members of our own species often seem to behave as if they lack insight and a sense of justice, not only toward other species, but also toward members of our own species. We will adopt a largely comparative perspective and examine philosophical, scientific, psychological, and popular writing about the relation of humans to the other apes. We will focus especially on the evidence for ethical reasoning and complex social relationships in humans and other primates, their possible origins, and the implications for the future survival of our primate kin and, ultimately, our own survival. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA PHIL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ANST-MN)(PHIL)(PHIL-Philosophy)(PHIL-Social Jus)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
TBA
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly commentaries. One proposal (5-10 pages) and final paper and presentation. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This seminar is designed for students with interests in comparative cognition, evolutionary ethics, primatology, ethics and animals, and those who are generally interested in understanding our place in the natural order. |
| Instructor(s): Jones,Robert C. Times: ..T.... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: FISK412; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 16 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: -1 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 0 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 7 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 5 |
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