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Politics of Biology

Module description

When we think about politics and society, what role does our understanding of biology play? What role should it play? Can nature tell us how to organise society? In what ways can biological science be used for ideological purposes? Is this ever legitimate, or is it always an abuse of science? How should we create policy around the use of biotechnologies? What is the relation between ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ in human life, and why does it matter?

This module explores a number of spaces where politics and biology come into contact with each other – where there is interplay between socio-political issues and our understanding of living nature. We examine these spaces via a range of disciplines, from political and social theory, to moral philosophy, to history and sociology of the life sciences. No particular prior knowledge is required.

We will look at some key politicisations of biology from recent history (e.g. social Darwinism, eugenics) as well as a range of contemporary debates around biotechnology, human nature, and human diversity. If you are interested in exploring fundamental questions about human existence, and the political implications of the way we answer these questions, you should take this module.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• Introduce you to the interplay between how we understand the living world and how we relate to each other in society;
• Expand your awareness of the various and complex relations between political ideology, social power, science, and values;
• Provide you with some of the critical tools needed to negotiate these relations in the modern world;
• Encourage independent research into contemporary and historical issues that can be examined using the perspectives introduced by the module.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. demonstrate critical awareness of the complex relations between political ideology, social power, science, and values;
• 2. apply perspectives introduced in the module to a variety of contemporary or historical debates that bring politics and biology into conversation with each other.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. critically reflect on the political and social ramifications of changing understandings of science;
• 4. display good awareness of a range of conceptual frameworks that can be used to understand the complex and changing interaction between science and society.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. demonstrate awareness of the multiple ways in which scientific knowledge can be interpreted and used;
• 6. demonstrate awareness of mutual interaction between knowledge and social relations/power;
• 7. study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively;
• 8. communicate effectively in speech and writing;
• 9. demonstrate research and analytical skills through seminar discussions and module assessments;
• 10. demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases, and other IT resources for the purposes of seminar and assessment preparation.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• 19^th century appropriations of Darwinian theory by both laissez-faire capitalist and socialist/anarchist ideology;
• The role of biological ideas in 20^th century eugenics movements and the phenomenon of ‘dehumanisation’;
• The notions of ‘nature’ and ‘human nature’ in debates around issues such as gender, sexuality, disability, and the use of bio-technologies;
• The implications of contemporary understandings of development and evolution for our ideas of identity, diversity, the individual and society.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment assignments will take the same form as the original summative assessments.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Meloni, M. (2016) Political Biology: Science and Social Values in Human Heredity from Eugenics to Epigenetics (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)
• Lewontin, R. (1991) Biology as Ideology: The Doctrine of DNA (New York: Harper Collins)
• Nelkin, D. & Lindee, M. S. (1995) The DNA Mystique: The Gene as a Cultural Icon (New York: W. H. Freeman and Co.)
• Kevles, D. J. & Hood, L. (eds.) (1992) The Code of Codes: Scientific and Social Issues in the Human Genome Project (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press)
• Barker, G. (2015) Beyond Biofatalism: Human Nature for an Evolving World (New York: Columbia University Press)
• Kronfeldner, M. (2018) What’s Left of Human Nature? : A Post-Essentialist, Pluralist, and Interactive Account of a Contested Concept (MIT Press)
• Lewens, T. & Hannon, E. (eds.) (2018) Why We Disagree About Human Nature (Oxford University Press)
• Habermas, J. (2003) The Future of Human Nature (Cambridge: Polity Press)
• Oyama, S. (2000b) Evolution’s Eye: A Systems View of the Biology-Culture Divide (Durham, NC.: Duke University Press)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Politics, Biology, Ideology, Nature, Human Diversity, Dehumanisation, History and Sociology of Science