Cultures of the Life Sciences
Module title | Cultures of the Life Sciences |
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Module code | SOCM016 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Dr Adam Toon (Lecturer) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 0 | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
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Module description
This module will introduce historical and contemporary practices in the life sciences by drawing on philosophical, historical, and sociological perspectives. The module will focus on the ways in which biological knowledge is produced, from the collection and description of species in the field to the use of models, experiments, and computational tools in the laboratory. We will investigate the relationship between the knowledge produced within the life sciences and its material, social and historical context. We will also consider the wider implications of such knowledge for our conception of ourselves and our place in the natural world.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To provide a thorough and rigorous discussion of historical and contemporary practices in the life sciences from a range of philosophical, historical, and sociological perspectives. To foster techniques of analytical and critical inquiry.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate an understanding of many of the basic conceptual issues and challenges at stake in the life sciences,
- 2. demonstrate in writing an ability to philosophically analyse the ways in which these problems have been and/or could be addressed
- 3. demonstrate in writing an ability to understand both contemporary and historical aspects of biology in a wide conceptual context and to think across discipline-specific boundaries.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. demonstrate in writing and orally a well-developed ability to understand and analyse scientific theories and philosophical arguments
- 5. demonstrate in writing and orally an understanding of the role and importance of detailed empirical work for philosophical understanding
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. demonstrate an independent ability to construct their own arguments and critically evaluate the ideas and arguments of others, both orally and in writing
- 7. demonstrate in writing able to show they have acquired precision of thought and expression in the analysis and formulation of complex problems. Students will also be able to identify and locate appropriate literature, and write cogent and convincing essay
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will draw from the following:
- The role of classification in biology
- Experimental practices in biology
- Modelling practices in biology
- Publishing practices in biology
- The role of important concepts such as ‘gene’
- The role of computation in biology
- Biology and human nature
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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22 | 278 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning Activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour lectures |
Guided independent study | 110 | 11 x 10 hours of course readings |
Guided independent study | 40 | Preparation of presentation |
Guided independent study | 128 | Reading/research for and writing of essay |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Essay plan | 500 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Presentation | 10 minutes | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 | Oral and written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Essay 1 | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Essay 2 | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Essay 1 (3,000 words) | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Essay 2 (3,000 words) | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Where you have been referred/ deferred for the essay, you will resubmit two 3,000 word essays. This will constitute 100% of the module (30 credits).
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Desmond, A. & Moore, J. (1992). Darwin. Penguin.
Dupre, J (1993) The Disorder of Things. Cambridge University Press.
Mueller-Wille, S and Rheinberger, H (2018) The Gene: From Genetics to Postgenomics. Chicago University Press.
Sarkar, S., & Plutynski, A., Eds. (2008). A companion to the philosophy of biology. Oxford: Blackwell.
Sterelny, K. & Griffiths, P. (1999). Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (Chicago: University of Chicago Press)
Wimsatt, W. (2007). Re-engineering philosophy for limited beings. Harvard: HUP.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Web based and electronic resources:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 7 |
Available as distance learning? | Yes |
Origin date | 12/01/2012 |
Last revision date | 30/05/2023 |