Darwin and Design, Fall 2002
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| Type: | Course Related Materials |
| Grade Level: | Post-secondary |
Author: Paradis, James
Subject: Humanities, Social Sciences
Institution Name:
M.I.T.
Collection Name: MIT OpenCourseWare
Abstract: In the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin gave us a model for understanding how natural objects and systems can evidence design without positing a designer: how purpose and mechanism can exist without intelligent agency. Texts in this course deal with pre- and post-Darwinian treatment of this topic within literature and speculative thought since the eighteenth century. We will give some attention to the modern study of feedback mechanisms in artificial intelligence. Our reading will be in Hume, Voltaire, Malthus, Darwin, Butler, Hardy, H. G. Wells, and Turing. There will be about 100 pp. of weekly reading--sometimes fewer, sometimes more.
Details
Course Type: Full Course
Material Types: Homework and Assignments, Syllabi
Media Formats: Text/HTML, Downloadable docs
Language: English
Additional Information
Geographic
Regional Relevance: All
