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 136-102 Darwinism: Man, Woman and Nature in the History of Biology

Credit Points

12.5 1st year

Coordinator

Dr Mark Madison

Semester

2

Contact

Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial a week

Subject Description

An exploration of the work of Charles Darwin and later theories of evolution in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The social and scientific background of evolutionary theories in Great Britain, the United States, Germany and Australia will be compared. The relations between biological claims and social theories will be examined through the topics of: social Darwinism, racial science, evolution of sex and gender, ethology, eugenics, sociobiology, science and religion, and environmentalism.

Assessment

Written work not exceeding 4,000 words and two in-class tests.

Prescribed Texts
  • Desmond, A. & Moore, J, Darwin.
  • Bowler, P.J, Evolution: the history of an idea.
  • Appleman, P, Darwin: Selections.
  • Wells, H.G, The Time Machine.
Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : History and Philosophy of Science
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Next 136-103 Human Values, Social Change and New Technologies
 
Status:                   Official 1998
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au