Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender,Queer 112 - Social Life:The Paradox of Cooperative Behavior

Institution:

Colgate University

Subject:

Description:

K. Ingram If survival of the fittest is the law of the land, why are so many animals (including humans) compelled to live in cooperative, complex societies Cooperative behavior among organisms is recognized as one of the major transitions in evolutionary biology. Seeming to defy the selfish laws of natural selection, the evolution of social behavior has fascinated biologists, psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, and economists alike. In this course, students explore the basic foundations of sociobiology, the study of social behavior in animals, and solve the paradox of how cooperative behaviors can evolve by natural selection. Using detailed case studies from organisms as diverse as dolphins, birds, ants, and humans, students discuss the mechanisms driving social interactions and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of cooperative behavior. Case studies include both classical ethological studies and cutting-edge research in animal behavior. Students discuss the philosophical, ethical, and political controversy that erupted with the emergence of sociobiology in the 1970s - a debate that is still smoldering today - and explore the application of social behavior principles to human behavior and the organization of human societies.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.colgate.edu

Phone Number:

(315) 228-1000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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