Course Description: The Darwinian theory of evolution by natural selection is one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the modern era. Although it is a theory of biology with its revolutionary consequences in all life sciences it has also had an enormous impact on science in general, philosophy, religion, and politics the last 150 years. This course traces the teleological notions of design and purpose from the Greek antiquity and medieval Europe through 17th century to early 19th century to prepare the intellectual background for the Darwinian theory of evolution and then investigates the Darwinian response to this background. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The aim of this course is to demonstrate students how evolutionary theory naturalized teleological notions, such as purpose and design, by tracing these teleological notions from the Greek antiquity and medieval Europe through 17th century to 19th centuries.