Course Identification

Evolutionary Theory in the 21^st Century: Towards a New Unification of the Life Sciences?

Eva Jablonka

“Evolutionary theory is the most general framework for understanding the biological world. It is a conceptual bottleneck through which any theory of life and mind must pass. If a biological (or psychological, or sociological) theory fails to pass through this bottleneck, it is likely there is something seriously wrong with it.” (Ginsburg and Jablonka 2019, pp. ix-x)

Evolutionary theory, which, as the quote above suggests, is the most integrative and general framework within the life sciences, has been evolving since the early 19^th century, when it was first clearly articulated. Combining historical, sociological and philosophical considerations, alongside new findings and models in the life sciences, the course will provide an overall view of the current, 21^st century development-informed state of the theory, as well as the challenges and debates surrounding it. We shall start with a historical and philosophical-theoretical overview of evolutionary theorizing, discussing major biological concepts such as function, teleology and self-organization, and outlining the history of evolutionary ideas from the 19^th century until the end of the 20^th century. Current ideas and studies that extend and challenge 20^th century neo-Darwinian dominant views of evolution, will then be surveyed.

The interconnected topics the course will focus on will be:

1. Introduction: The history and philosophy of evolutionary theory; 19^th century ideas, neo-Darwinism, 20^th century “Modern Synthesis”, and current debates. Major organizing concepts and their transformations (2 meetings).  
2. Developmental plasticity and canalization, developmental biases and developmental affordances. (1.5 meetings)
3. Inclusive inheritance (i.e., genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbol-based inheritance).   (1.5 meetings)
4. Niche construction and organismal agency
5. The porous and evolving boundaries of biological individuality
6. Phylogenetic and ontogenetic selection processes; patterns of relations in the biological world
7. Different types of major transitions during the history of life: ecological, informational and teleological
8. Learning and evolution. The evolution of learning, learning as evolution, and evolution as a learning process
9. The evolution of consciousness (of subjective experiencing)
10. Cognitive approaches to morphogenetic development; basal cognition; the implications of the cognitive view for theorizing about evolvability and innovation
11. Developmental systems-theory inspired ways of representing and modeling biological, social-ecological systems in the Anthropocene
12. Is there a paradigm shift in evolutionary theorizing today? Does current evolutionary theorizing offer a new framework for the unification of the life sciences? How can changes in evolutionary theorizing affect currently emerging disciplines and how can new technologies affect evolution and evolutionary theorizing?

The discussion about the topics in the syllabus will shed light not only on theoretical and philosophical major concepts and assumptions in the life sciences, but also on the social, ecological and political aspects of scientific research.

The course is designed for graduate students interested in the theory, history and philosophy of modern evolutionary biology. Students will read 2 texts (either papers or book chapters) for each meeting on biological, historical and philosophical relevant topics and engage in discussions. The format of the course will be a combination of lectures and discussions: a lecture by the teacher and a short presentation by a student or student group, followed by discussion of the topic. The mark will be based on the presentation given in class, and on the final essay.

This is a non-exhaustive list which may slightly change before the semester starts.

1. *Bennett, M. (2023) A Brief History of Intelligence: Why the Evolution of the Brain Holds the Key to the Future of AI. William Collins.
2. *Bonduriansky R. and Day T, (2018) Extended Heredity: A New Understanding of Inheritance and Evolution. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
3. Calcott, B. and Sterelny, K. (2011). The Major Transitions in Evolution Revisited Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
4. *Chiu L. (2022) Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. A review of the latest scientific research
5. Dupré, J. (2012). Processes of Life Essays in the Philosophy of Biology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Reprint edition 2014.
6. Gilbert, S. F., and Epel, D. (2015). Ecological Developmental Biology: Integrating Epigenetics, Medicine, and Evolution Sunderland, MA: Sinauer. Second Edition.
7. *Ginsburg S. and Jablonka E. (2019) The Evolution of the Sensitive Soul: Learning and the Origins of Consciousness. MIT Press. Cambridge MA
8. *Ginsburg S. and Jablonka E. (Anna Zeligowski Pictures) (2022) Picturing the Mind through the lens of evolution. MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
9. Gissis, S. B., and Jablonka, E. eds. (2011). Transformations of Lamarckism: From Subtle Fluids to Molecular Biology. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
10. *Jablonka, E. and Lamb, M.J. (2014). Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life. Cambridge: MA: MIT Press. Revised Edition.
11. *Jablonka, E. and Lamb, M.J. (2020). Inheritance Systems and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
12. *Lala, K.L. Uller, T.,  Feiner, N.,  Feldman, M. and Gilbert S. 2024 Evolution Evolving: The Developmental Origins of Adaptation and Biodiversity. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
13. Noble, D. (2006). The Music of Life: Biology beyond Genes. Oxford: Oxford University.
14. Noble, D. (2017). Dance to the Tune of Life: Biological Relativity. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
15. O'Malley, M. (2014). Philosophy of Microbiology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
16. Odling-Smee, F. J., K. N. Laland, and M. W. Feldman. (2003). Niche Construction: The Neglected Process in Evolution. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
17. Oyama, S. (2000). The Ontogeny of Information: Developmental Systems and Evolution. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 2nd edition
18. Pigliucci, M., and G. B. Müller, eds. (2010). Evolution—The Extended Synthesis. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
19. Sapp, J. (2009). The New Foundations of Evolution. On the Tree of Life. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
20. *Waddington CH (1957). The Strategy of the Genes. Allen and Unwin.
21. *West-Eberhard, M. J. (2003). Developmental Plasticity and Evolution. New York: Oxford University Press.
22. Bennett M. (2023) A Brief History of Intelligence: Why the Evolution of the Brain Holds the Key to the Future of AI. Willam Collins.