INTR 292(S) What is Life? (Same as Religion 292 and Chemistry 292)
The 21st century will be the biological century. Developments in biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics will be as transformative as computers and information technologies were in the 20th century. These changes will recast the
question of life and will pose difficult social, political, and ethical challenges.
For centuries philosophers and scientists have attempted to define life. How
does life begin and where does it end? What is the difference between the living
and the non-living? What makes human life distinctive? Recent advances in science and technology have complicated these questions but at the same time have
opened new possibilities of communication between philosophy and science. In
this course, we will draw on a variety of disciplinary approaches to integrate
scientific and philosophical approaches to the question of life. Topics to be considered include: origin of life, evolution, co-evolution and symbiosis, cells and
organisms, organization and complex adaptive systems, replication and reproduction, disease and self-preservation, information and bioinformatics, viruses
and parasites, molecular, cellular and organism cloning, stem cells, abortion, tissue engineering, gene therapy, artificial life, implants and prostheses. In addition
to the philosophical and scientific aspects of these issues, we will examine their
social, ethical and political implications. Readings drawn from texts and articles
written by scientists and philosophers.
Format: discussion/lecture. Evaluation will be based on midterm exam and final
paper.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 25). Open to all.
Satisfies one semester of the Division II requirement.