The contribution of a comparative perspective BIAN2124/6124 Lecture 26 1 Your feedback welcome, e.g. on Lectures Tutorials: Readings Assessment: Videos/films Use discussions vs presentations esp. the early test of web & email Course design & coverage of topics 2 Do humans maximize RS? reproductive success Not obvious how to determine maximum The exception of altruism The assumption that genetics can generate the basis for any imaginable behaviour The implication that through a wide diversity of cultures & environments, people respond adaptively & maximize RS Fertility 3 Test cases & their interpretation Hutterite fertility 9-11 Why do few other societies reach that level? Evolutionary theory & the demographic transition Quantity versus quality: cost of parenthood Religious celibacy (Skoptsy of Russia) Non-reproductive sex Voluntary childlessness Adoption & fostering Step-parenting 4 Review of course topics No 5 doubt of humans being evolved animal Plausible that humans have evolved behavioural propensities, even if salient feature is openness to culture & learning Brain & other anatomical features allow some inferences Zoological principles may be applied, but may prove insufficient; simplistic models often likely to be wrong for cultural animal Review continued ... A different perspective on humanity: how humans differ from animals & resemble each other - & also differ from each other! A framework of concepts, including Tinbergen's `4 whys' - causation, ontogeny, survival value, phylogeny Different questions, assumptions, attitudes Another range of behaviour study methods 6 Review continued ... fallacy as a potential cop-out? Some biological concepts more keystones than specific hypotheses and theories? Implications of `environment of evolutionary adaptedness' concept? Has human history taken us into a realm where culture explains more than biology? A future where cultural & biological views are not seen as opposing each other? 7 Naturalistic The structure of the course Introduction Themes & theories Transition to humanity Modern humanity 8 The different disciplines & subdisciplines Ethology Sociobiology Behavioural ecology Evolutionary psychology Have only touched on:- memetics - gene-culture co-evolution 9 Purpose of exams broaden basis of assessment test breadth of reading, & comprehension of concepts, theories, more salient facts, in some cases contributions of specific authors provide setting where everyone is working in same conditions & with own resources increase `objectivity' of examination 10 Exam preparation core 11 examinable material consists of required readings lecture content & videos optional readings may back these up, especially where there are options in the exam structure, but are less essential where there are fewer undisputed facts & concepts, they may need tying to authors revise, re-read, make notes, memorize as reasonable; but don't run short of sleep Exam arrangements exam 12 is not optional (but no set pass mark) be in the right place 5-10 minutes early bring pen, pencil, rubber, student card no other permitted materials unless advised 15 minutes reading period: no writing in script book or on exam paper during this 2 hour writing period r...