PSF: Evolutionism and Creationism. Introduction to contemporary debates

elementary

FI2_W01; FI2_W02;

Classes will be devoted to the discussion of the problems related to creationism and evolutionism. The aim of the course will be to present the philosophical context of this dispute and to situate it in the broader context of the history of science, religion, and philosophy. During the course, participants will have the opportunity to read the writings of philosophers dealing with this issue and will be able to undertake a critical discussion of the issues raised during debates.

The classes will be devoted to the problem of creationism and evolutionism. The aim of the course will be to present the philosophical context of this dispute and to situate it in the broader context of the history of science, religion, and philosophy.

The classes will be divided into four thematic blocks.

The first block is introductory in nature and aims to familiarize participants with the basic issues related to the dispute between evolutionism and religion and creationism and to present the historical context of this conflict.

The second block will focus on explaining the importance of essentialism in debates between creationists and evolutionists.

The third block will focus on issues related to teleology - that is, the problem of the purposefulness of nature. It will be shown how the problem of purposefulness contributed to the emergence of contemporary controversies related to the theory of evolution.

The fourth block will discuss issues related to anthropogenesis and the controversies related to this issue. It will also be explained how the thesis about the animal origin of man led to the creation of a naturalistic interpretation of religious beliefs advocated by representatives of the so-called New Atheism.

Each block will consist of: lecture classes, during which participants will learn the historical and philosophical context of the discussed issues, and classes involving the analysis of source texts. In the last type of classes, participants will jointly discuss and analyze the texts of thinkers involved in the discussed polemics, for example, R. Dawkins, M. Behe ​​, and S. Harris. The thematic blocks will be closed by Oxford debates in which participants will be able to critically take up the discussed topic.

Works discussed during classes:

1) Jodkowski K., Spór ewolucjonizmu z kreacjonizmem. Podstawowe pojęcia i poglądy, Megas, Warszawa 2007;

Wartenberg F., O Teoryji Darwina, W komisie księgarni M. Leitgebra, Poznań 1866;

Rejchmann B., Teorya Darwina w stosunku do nauki i życia – szkic ogólny, Atteneum 8(1882);

2) Behe M.J., Nieredukowalna złożoność: problem dla ewolucjonizmu darwinowskiego, Filozoficzne Aspekty Genezy — 2005/2006, t. 2/3;

Dawkins R., Bóg urojony, Cis, Warszawa 2007 ;

Kloskowski K., Filozofia ewolucji i filozofia stwarzania. T.1. Między ewolucją a stwarzaniem, Wydawnictwo Akademii Teologii Katolickiej, Warszawa 1999 ;

3) Dawkins R., Najwspanialsze Widowisko Świata, Wydawnictwo Cis, Stare Groszki 2010 ;

Wagner M.J., Metanaukowy kontekst problemu „brakującego ogniwa”, Studia Philosophiae Christianae 56(2016)2;

Pawlicki S., Studyja nad Darwinizmem, Wydawnictwo dzieł katolickich, Kraków 1875 ;

4) Harris S., Pejzaż Moralny, Cis, Warszawa 2012 ;

Skierkowski M., Anty-teizm Richarda Dawkinsa i Christophera Hitchensa, w: Wobec nowego ateizmu, Wydawnictwo UKSW, Warszawa 2011;

Dybowksi B., O znaczeniu i doniosłości teoryj mutacyjnych i ewolucyjnych w nauce i życiu, Nakładem Kurjera Lwowskiego, Lwów 1902 .

Additional literature:

1) Allen P. L., Hess P. M. J., Catholicism and Science, Greenwood Press, London 2008

2) Bowler P. J., The non-Darwinian revolution. Reinterpreting a historical myth, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore – London 1988.

3) Heller M. Filozofia przypadku, Copernicus Centre Press, Kraków 2012

4) Moore J. R., The Post-Darwinian Controversies. A study of the Protestant struggle to come to terms with Darwin in Great Britain and America 1870-1900., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1979.

5) Wagner M. J., Interpretacje rozwoju biologii ewolucyjnej na przełomie XIX i XX wieku. Warszawa, Liberi Libr 2020.

CTS [1 ECTS = 30 (25) hours]:

participation in the classes: 0-30 hours

preparation for a pass: 30-60 hours

Total hours (average): 60 [60/30 (25) = 2]

Number of ECTS: 2

Knowledge

FI2_W01 the graduate knows and thoroughly understands the role of philosophical reflection in shaping culture and, at an advanced level, of the relationship between the formation of philosophical ideas and changes in culture and society

FI2_W02 the graduate knows and understands in an extended way the place and meaning of philosophy in relation to other sciences, as well as the subject and methodological specificity of philosophy and the role of scientific theories in the process of shaping individual philosophical concepts regarding the nature of the world and man

The final grade consists of:

1. Grade for attendance, each time certified with an entry in the attendance list according to the scale:

15-14 attendance - 5

13 attendances - 4.5

12-11 presence - 4

10 presences - 3.5

9-7 presence - 3

6 - 0 presence - 2

2. Assessment of preparation for the debate

3. Assessment of the presentation

Other details will be provided during the course.

The final grade is the average of the class attendance grade, activity grade, and presentation grade.