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BIOL40850

Academic Year 2024/2025

Big Questions in Biology (BIOL40850)

Subject:
Biology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Adam Kane
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Biology is a rapidly advancing field and yet there remain fundamental unresolved questions – some of which are outside the reach of science. In this course, students will grapple with Big Questions in Biology by taking a philosophical approach. This will allow the class to stress test their long-held assumptions about biology and come to terms with what it means to be human as we explore, the nature of life, the nature of consciousness and the nature of morality to name a few. These are all central questions in the 21st century as scientists strive to create artificial lives and intelligences. We will use 12 lectures based around the Socratic method to air various sides of the debate. These will be supplemented by a series of group debates.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module students will:
• Realise the current limits of our understanding in biology
• Articulate the full implications of naturalism – the view that physical reality is all that there is
• Be able to appreciate the arguments used to support these views even when they disagree

Indicative Module Content:

1. What is Biology
History of thought, Aristotle, Darwin, vitalism
2. What is Reality
Physicalism, emergence, evolution, reality, abstract objects, simulation VR
3. What is Life
Viruses, origins, aliens, DNA and RNA worlds
4. What is Consciousness
Subjective from objective, thoughts, introspection, bats, Mary’s Room, AI
5. What is Morality
Objective from subjective, other species
6. What is Free Will
Deterministic Vs stochastic nature, causes and effects, Libet experiment

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Conversation Class

12
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, class discussions, group debates

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In-class quizzes Week 5, Week 6, Week 7 Pass/Fail Grade Scale No
10
 No
Group Work Assignment: Group debate Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Student Negotiated or Choice of Assessment: Final report in a medium to be negotiated Week 9 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
70
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Emma Teeling Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 25, 26, 29 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
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