21L.448 / 21W.739J Darwin and Design, Fall 2002

Author(s)
Paradis, James
Thumbnail
Download21l-448-fall-2002/contents/index.htm (15.14Kb)
Alternative title
Darwin and Design
Terms of use
This site (c) Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2010. Content within individual courses is (c) by the individual authors unless otherwise noted. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is providing this Work (as defined below) under the terms of this Creative Commons public license ("CCPL" or "license") unless otherwise noted. The Work is protected by copyright and/or other applicable law. Any use of the work other than as authorized under this license is prohibited. By exercising any of the rights to the Work provided here, You (as defined below) accept and agree to be bound by the terms of this license. The Licensor, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, grants You the rights contained here in consideration of Your acceptance of such terms and conditions.
Metadata
Show full item record
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 pages of weekly reading--sometimes fewer, sometimes more. Note: The title and content of this course, taught steadily at MIT since 1987, predate Michael Ruse's recent 2003 volume by the same title.
Date issued
2002-12
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58742
Other identifiers
21L.448-Fall2002
Other identifiers
21L.448
21W.739J
IMSCP-MD5-d73b48142257e00eff03862a53a01402
Keywords
Origin of Species, Darwin, intelligent agency, literature, speculative thought, eighteenth century, feedback mechanism, artificial intelligence, Hume, Voltaire, Malthus, Butler, Hardy, H.G. Wells, Freud, 21L.448, 21W.739J, 21W.739
Collections

The following license files are associated with this item: