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Winter 2002
This information effective for Winter 2002.
Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.
Instructor: A. Zihlman
TTH 2:00-3:45 p.m.
Soc Sci 2 167
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Week
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Topic
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Readings & Assignments
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| January 3 | Introduction to class; topics and overview; goals, format | First assignment; one page on the mechanisms of evolution.Due Jan 8; bring copies to class |
| January 8, 10 | Darwin; voyaging, the context; the methods, the mechanism | Reading and discussion of Origin of Species; Reader: Ghiselin; Mayr |
| January 15, 17 | Dimensions of Darwin's work | Reading and discussion of Origin of Species and Descent of Man |
| January 22, 24 | Sexual selection - Darwin's ideasImpact in anthropology, behavior, and human evolution | Descent of Man; Reader: Packer, Dagg, Zihlman |
| January 29, 31 | Leading to the Modern Synthesis: genetics, natural history, anatomy | Peter Bowler: The Nondarwinian Revolution |
| February 5, 7 | Modern synthesis - paleontologyBehavior and development; what was left out of the synthesis. | Reader articles: Mayr 1980 through Washburn |
| February 12 Advising Day February 14 |
Evolution and anthropology.Discussion of term paper topics | Reader: complete to Mayr 1997Statement of term paper topic |
| February 19, 21 | Discussion of paper topicsStudy of the Past |
Reader articles: review Laporte Reading for term paper |
| February 26 March 1 | The new synthesis: GUEST J.M. Lowenstein |
Reader: Lowenstein and HollandReading for term paper; outline |
| March 5, 7 | Draft Due. Exchange and discussion | Outlines and Drafts |
| March 12, 14 | Discussion of papers | Drafts |
| March | FORMAL PRESENTATIONS | FINAL PAPER DUE |
Required texts:
Darwin ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES
Darwin DESCENT OF MAN AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX
Bowler THE NONDARWINIAN REVOLUTION
A Reader with a series of original articles from 1949 to 2001.
What the course is about.
The course explores the history of ideas and major concepts in evolutionary
studies and their impact in anthropology—human evolution, primate behavior,
paleoanthropology, human variation—remember, every concept has a history.
We read original or secondary sources beginning with Darwin’s original
work. His writings bear on many issues and questions that occupy us today.
We touch on a number of topics: 1) dimensions of Darwin’s work and its
long term impact, for example, the nonacceptance of natural selection and reformulation
of sexual selection; 2) the “update” of evolutionary theory and the
contributors to the modern synthesis; 3) the impact of evolutionary theory in
anthropology and the role of Washburn in that endeavor; 4) topics “left
out” of the modern synthesis, such as development (ontogeny) and social
behavior (sexual selection); 5) an update on the contributions of molecular
biology to evolutionary theory and the new “new synthesis;” 6) the
role of primatology, anatomy, paleoanthropology, and archaeology in reconstructing
and interpreting the human past.
I would emphasize that the depth and direction of our discussions will in part
be influenced by the range of interests expressed by students in the class.
Course Format
During the first six weeks we read and discuss three books and most of the articles
in the reader. You will be writing on the readings due each Tuesday; they provide
the basis for class discussion. For most written assignments you will bring
extra copies to hand out to the class. The specifics of each assignment will
be confirmed by the prior Thursday. For some assignments you will be writing
reactions to the work of others. February 12 is an advising day; class does
not meet. On Thursday a prospectus of your term paper is due; each student will
present a summary and the class, the first of several, will be devoted to brainstorming
sessions. A formal draft of your paper is due on March 5 for circulation and
discussion giving you time for revision.
Goals
To introduce you to key contributors, major issues and debates, and literature
of evolutionary theory from Darwin to the present time.
To give you practice in thinking critically, asking creative questions, and
in communicating your thoughts clearly in discussions, writing, and formal presentations.
To help you become a constructive critic of others’ writing and to value
constructive criticism of others.
Course requirements.
Class participation counts heavily and therefore will require your attendance.
Weekly short papers; a major research paper (20–25 pages) that you will
work on during the quarter; and formal presentation during the final exam period.
The last four weeks focus exclusively on your projects.
GHISELIN, Michael 1982, 1969 Prefaces to Triumph of the Darwinian Method.
PACKER C. 2000 Infanticide is no fallacy. American Anthropologist 102:
829–31.
DAGG A. I. 2000 The infanticide hypothesis: a response to the response 831–834.
ZIHLMAN, A.L. 1996 “Misreading Darwin on Reproduction: Reductionism in Evolutionary Theory.” In Conceiving the New World Order.
MAYR, Ernst 1988 “Darwin and Natural Selection.” In Mayr
MAYR, Ernst 1980 “The Evolutionary Synthesis. Some thoughts on the history
of the
evolutionary synthesis.” In Mayr and Provine.
DOBZHANSKY, Th. 1980 Morgan and his school in the 1930s. In Mayr and Provine.
LAPORTE, Leo 2000 G.G. Simpson.
Chapter 2 “Paleontology and the Expansion of Biology”
Chapter 8 “Mentor for Paleoanthropology.”
CARROLL, S.B. 2001 The big picture. Nature 409: 669.
ZIHLMAN A.L. 2000 “A skeletal survey of physical anthropology in the US”
In Revista di Antropologia (Roma): 78: 57–66.
WASHBURN, S.L. 1951 “The New Physical Anthropology,” Proc. Trans. N.Y. Academy of Sciences.
WASHBURN, S.L. 1951 Analysis of primate evolution with particular
reference to the origin of man. CSHSQB
WASHBURN, S.L. 1963 “The Study of Race.” American Anthropologist
DOBSHANSKY, Theodosius 1963 Anthropology and the Natural Sciences—
the problem of human evolution. In Current Anthropology.
WASHBURN, S.L. & E.R. McCOWN 1978 Human evolution and social science.
WHITE, Leslie 1949 The Symbol. The origin and basis of human behavior,
On the use of tools by primates. Chapter three.
BEACH, Frank 1955 “The descent of instinct.” Psychology Review.
SIMPSON, G.G. 1958 Behavior and Evolution In Behavior and Evolution.
WILSON, E.O. 1994 “The Molecular Wars.” From Naturalist.
MAYR, Ernst 1997 “Why?” Questions. The development of the organism.
In This is Biology, chapter 9.
LOWENSTEIN, J.M. 1993 Immunospecificity of fossil proteins. Implications for the establishment of evolutionary trends. In Organic Geochemistry. Plenum Press.
HOLLAND, P.W.H. 1999 The future of evolutionary developmental biology. Nature
402:41–44.