Overall
course description
Humans possess a brain that is about seven times
larger, than would be expected given their body size. This unexpectedly large
(and energetically taxing) brain allows our species many cognitive advantages,
including advanced executive functioning and the ability to communicate in
language. Thanks to these characteristics, humans have become the most
prevalent animal species on our planet, inhabiting and thriving in practically
all possible environments.
It is therefore not surprising that since the very
beginnings of the evolutionary studies, humans were thought of as the pinnacle
of evolution with uniquely human traits. However, findings from modern study
evolution of humans and other animals show that many of these traits are in
fact to some extent present in other species as well. By connecting findings
from comparative psychology and biological anthropology this course will aim to
answer the question of what we have learned from the study of nonhuman species
about the evolution of human cognitive capabilities. It will offer a critical
perspective on the idea of human species as the pinnacle of evolution. Instead,
it will argue that all species have evolved traits enabling their survival in
their specific ecological conditions.
Lecturer: Josefína Weinerová, MPhil
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86144270090
Assessment
- Pass/Fail
- Deadline at midnight 11.6.2021
- Based on an essay of 1200-1500 words answering one of the following questions:
- Is language uniquely unique human trait?
- Was the evolution of humans inevitable?
- Can we say a goldfish is less intelligent than a chimpanzee?
- What is the interplay between social learning strategies and environmental change? OR:
- Choose your own question…
If you decide to choose your own question,
discuss this choice with the lecturer.
Each essay should:
- Answer the essay question
- Have structure – clear introduction of your topic and main argument (your own), well argued body paragraphs (about 4-6 of them), conclusion
- Have intext references and bibliography (I recommend using a reference manager to keep track of your literature)
- Have 1200-1500 words
- Define any terms you use
Essay should not:
- Just paraphrase everything connected to the topic
- Use only material learned in lectures
- Only summarise literature sources