21L.448J / 21W.739J Darwin and Design, Fall 2009
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21l-448j-fall-2009/contents/index.htm
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Author(s)
Paradis, James
Alternative Title
Darwin and Design
Date Issued
December 2009
Abstract
In the Origin of Species (1859), 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, H. G. Wells, and Turing.
Subjects
Origin of Species
Darwin
intelligent agency
literature
speculative thought
eighteenth century
feedback mechanism
artificial intelligence
Hume
Voltaire
Malthus
Butler
Hardy
H.G. Wells
Freud
Evolution
Modern Western philosophy
Philosophy of science
Religion
Science
Life Sciences
Evolution
Philosophy & Social Aspects
History
Intelligent design,individual species
complexity
development
God theory of evolution
science
theological explanation
universe
creatures
faith
and theology
purpose of evolution
Design
models
adaptation
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Literature Section
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. History Section
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
MIT Program in Women's and Gender Studies
MIT Program in Writing & Humanistic Studies
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