121-069 Evolution of Consciousness

Formerly available as 136-019 or 136-297/397. Students who have completed 136-019 or 136-297/397 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

This subject will examine recent advances in anthropology, paleontology, the neurosciences, psychology, and evolutionary biology which are producing new ideas about the origins of and relationships between the human brain, mind, language, behaviour, and culture. Specific topics to be discussed will include recent studies of the evolution of language and the relationships between the morphological, mental and cultural evolution of Homo sapiens, with reference to recent advances in the neurobiology of consciousness. On completion of the subject students should have a grounding in contemporary thought in the sciences of evolution and in the role of evolutionary theory in anthropological approaches to the study of culture and human sociality.

Written work totalling 4000 words.