PNP 495/496: PNP Seminar

TTh 10:00-11:30 AM

Version 1.1

Wilson 104

Instructor: Dr. Ron Mallon rmallon(2)artsci.wustl.eduOA/1 'WileA . V T " T V l i t :

Hours: By appt. (I'm in most days.)

Texts: Kelly, Dan. 2011. Yuckl. MIT Press.

Richerson, P.J. and R. Boyd. 2005. Not By Genes Alone. University ofChicago Press. Chicago.

Other readings on Ares.

Syllabus on Telesis.

Course Description:

In this course, we consider the connection between evolution and culture, considering arange of research programs that connect them.

Course Requirements:

The course requirements consist in two papers on topics of your choosing, participation,and one (optional for undergraduates, required for graduate students) presentation.

First paper (6-8 pages): 45%

Second paper (6-8 pages): 45%

MARCH 8"

APRIL 27

Participation:

Presentation: REQUIRED for graduates.

Graduate students may complete a single, approximately 15 page paper.

Plagiarism will result in a failing grade.

I am happy to make accommodations in accordance with the WUSTL's policies on accommodation.Please see me if you need accommodation.

Readings are tentative, and may change. Current reading list will be available on Telesis.

Late work is accepted, but penalized unless prior arrangements are made.

All papers should be submitted so as to be graded anonymously.

Tentative Schedule of Topics by WeekIntroductionTuesday, January 17th: Introduction

What is Evolution ?Thursday, January 19th:1. Dennett, Dan. 1995. "An Idea is Born." From Darwin's Dangerous Idea. Simonand Schuster. Pp. 35-60.

Tuesday, January 24th:2. Godfrey-Smith, Peter. 2009. "Natural Selection and its Representation." FromDarwinian Populations and Natural Selection. Oxford University Press. Pp. 17-40.

Evolution and Behavioral EcologyThursday, January 26th:3. Winterhelder & Smith 2000. "Analyzing Adaptive Strategies: Human BehavioralEcology at Twenty-Five." Evolutionary Anthropology. 9(2)51-72.

Evolutionary PsychologyTuesday, January 31st:4. Leda Cosmides and John Tooby," 1997 "Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer"http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/primer.html

Thursday, February 2nd: Catch-up.

Critical Response to Evolutionary PsychologyTuesday, February 7th:David Buller and Valerie Gray Hardcastle. 2005, "Modularity" from Adapting Minds.(pp. 127-200)

Thursday, February 9th:More Buller & Hardcastle.

Tuesday, February 14th:More Buller & Hardcastle.

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Evolutionary Psychology in Action: DisgustThursday, February 16th:Kelly, Yuck! Introduction and Chp. 1 (1-42)

Tuesday, February 21st:Kelly, Yuck! Chp. 2 pp. 43-60

Thursday, February 23rd:

Kelly, Yuck! Chp. 3 pp. 61-100

Tuesday, February 28th:Kelly, Yuck! Chp. 4 pp. 101-136

Evolutionary Psychology and the Explanation of CultureThursday, March 1st:Sperber, Dan (1996). "Selection and Attraction in Cultural Evolution" Chp. 5,

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Tuesday, March 6th:Boyer, Pascal (2008). "Religion: Bound to Believe?." Nature 455:1038-1039.Boyer, Pascal and Brian Bergstrom (2008). "Evolutionary Perspectives on Religion."Annual Review of AnthroDoloev 37:111-130.

Thursday, March 8th:Nichols, Shaun (2002). "On the Genealogy of Norms: A Case for the Role of Emotionin Cultural Evolution." Philosophy of Science 69: 234-255.

March 13th and 15th: Spring Break

Niche ConstructionTuesday, March 20th:Laland, K.N., F.J. Odling-Smee, et al. (2000). "Niche construction, biological evolutionand cultural change." Behavioral & Brain Sciences 23: 131-146.Laland, Kevin N. and Kim Sterelny (2006)." Seven Reasons (Not) To Neglect Niche

Construction." Evolution 60(9): 1751-1762.

Thursday, March 22nd:No class. Instructor absent.

Evolution and Dual-Inheritance Models:Tuesday, March 27th:Richerson and Boyd, Chp. 1

Thursday, March 29th:Richerson and Boyd, Chp. 2

Tuesday, April 3rd:Richerson and Boyd, Chp. 3

Thursday, April 5th:catch up.

Tuesday, April 10th.

Richerson and Boyd, Chp. 4

Thursday, April 12th:Richerson and Boyd, Chp. 5

Cultural Evolution and TransmissionTuesday, April 17th:Driscoll, C. (2008). "The problem of adaptive individual choice in cultural evolution."Biology and PhilosoDhv 23:101-113.

Evolution and Moral PsychologyPsychopaths:Thursday, April 19th: (STAY TUNED - INSTRUCTOR MAY BE ABSENT)Blair, R. J. R (1995). "A cognitive developmental approach to morality: investigatingthe psychopath." Cognition 57(1): 1-29.

Incest avoidance:Tuesday, April 24th:Lieberman, D., Tooby, J. & Cosmides, L. (2003). Does morality have a biologicalbasis? An empirical test of the factors governing moral sentiments regarding incest.Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B, 270, 819-826.

Thursday, April 26th:Catch-upApril 27th is the last day of classes.