Course Description
After reading the relevant chapter of The Selfish Gene, students will discuss the points that they consider important in groups of three or four. Students will also seek to understand the content of each chapter by resolving any queries they may have. The following week, we will verify and correct any misunderstandings from students' summaries of the chapter. After gaining an understanding of the book’s claims through these activities, students will compile a report, in their own words, on various familiar events from the perspective of a selfish gene. The seminar will also give students the opportunity to gain a sense of game theory by reproducing the interactions between the individuals that feature in the book.
Keywords
gene, evolution, ethology, group work
Course Plan
The Japanese translation of The Selfish Gene, which is used as the textbook for this seminar, consists of Chapters 1 to 13 from the original text, as well as the prefaces and translators’ afterwords to each revised edition and excerpts from reviews of the book. From week 3 onward, we will generally read one chapter per week.
Once it has been confirmed that students understand the points presented, they will engage in group discussions on topics that correspond to the content of each chapter. Each member of the group will then summarize the content of the chapter.
1. Orientation
2. Introduction
3. Why are people?
4. The replicators
5. Immortal coils
6. The gene machine
7. Aggression: Stability and the selfish machine
8. Genesmanship
9. Family planning
10. Battle of the generations
11. Battle of the sexes
12. You scratch my back, I’ll ride on yours
13. Memes: The new replicators
14. Nice guys finish first
15. The long reach of the gene; class questionnaire
