Anthropology 1
Human Evolution in Philosophical Perspective
FALL 2004

Syllabus
Section 3
T-TH 11:10 - 12:35

Professor Christopher N. Matthews
Department of Anthropology
Hofstra University
Purpose of the Course
This course explores the origins of humanity as a species and the philosophical and ethical issues raised in the pursuit of this knowledge.  Its goals are to consider the historical development of evolutionary theory, the mechanisms of the evolutionary process, the rise of the human species, and the comparative location of humans beings in the animal world.  A particular focus is on the relationship between nature and culture as a distinctive characteristic for understanding humanity.  We will also examine the impact of subsistence, language, and art on the development of humanity over the last five million years.

Textbooks
Bernard G. Campbell and James D. Loy, Humankind Emerging, The Concise Edition
Michael Alan Park, Biological Anthropology: An Introductory Reader, 4th edition

There are also a articles on reserve and electronic reserve at the library (e-reserve code is anth1)

Assignments and Assessment
Exams   (60 points)
There will be a midterm and a final (each worth 30 points).  On the midterm there will be an identification section on the bones of the human skeleton.  Otherwise, the exams will consist of short answers.  Short answers are 4-5 sentence identifications of terms, people, ideas, and other relevant facts discussed in the readings and lectures.  A review sheet will be handed out in class prior to each exam.  Exams are not cumulative.  Exam dates are listed in the class schedule below.  Exam dates are listed in the class schedule below.

Research projects (30 points)
You will also develop and prepare three short papers on topics relating the study of evolution to issues in the contemporary world.  These papers and their due dates are described below (after the class schedule). Click here for more details on these projects.
 


Class Schedule
Part 1  (September 7-14) What is a human being/what is being human?
 Readings:
• Ingold (Humanity and Animality) on reserve
• Park, Reader, Chapters 1, 15, 30

Part 2  (September 21-23) The evolution of evolutionary theory
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapter 1, pp.1-11
• Park, Reader, Chapters 8, 9

Part 3 (September 28-30) Life: the source and maintenance of genetic variation
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapters 2 & 3
• Park, Reader, Chapters 10, 13, 14
 

Research Project 1 Due October 5
 

Part 4 (October 7-14) Among the primates: the animals we are
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapters 4 & 5
• Movie: Among the Wild Chimpanzees (V-416)
 

Research Project 2 Due October 19
 

Part 5 (October 21) Techniques of Paleoanthropology: fossils, dirt, and dating
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapter 1, pp.11-13
• Movie: In Search of Human Origins, Part 1 (V-3760)

Part 6. (October 26) The Earliest Hominids
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapters 6 & 7
 

Midterm Exam, October 28
 

Part 7. (November 2-11) The Genus Homo: Culture takes over
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapters 8 & 9
• Park, Reader, Chapter 22
• Movie: In Search of Human Origins, Part 2 (V-3761)

Part 8. (November 16-18) The Neanderthals and the Ancients
 Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapter 10
• Park, Reader, Chapter 23
• Movie: In Search of Human Origins, Part 3 (V-3762)
 

Research Project 3 Due November 23
 

Part 9. (November 30-December 9) Modern Sapiens: Consciousness, Language, and Art
Readings:
• Campbell and Loy, Humankind Emerging, Chapters 11 & 12
• Conkey (Humans ands Materialists and Symbolists) on reserve
• Park, Reader, Chapter 24
 

Final Exam: December 16, 10:30-12:30


Class Policies
I want you to succeed in my class. To do so, you need to stay current with the readings, come to class, and make sure you understand what I am talking about.  To help you avoid simple mistakes, the following provides my policy on the basic issues.

ATTENDANCE
You are responsible for the material both in the readings and the lectures.  While you are adults, and it is your choice to perform or not, if you are not in class, I cannot do my job for you as a teacher.  Coming to class allows you to see how I am thinking about the material and get the most out of it.  Missing class will only leave you short-handed when it comes time for exams and the research projects, and ultimately will affect my assessment of your grade.

I will take role every class and record your absences.  If you miss class for any reason, please produce a written excuse so that I can keep it with my records.  I allow only 3 unexcused absences before I take points off your final grade.

MISSED EXAMS
If for any reason you need to miss a scheduled exam I require written notification in advance.  If an unforeseen problem arises you must contact me within 24 hours of the exam (not the next class!!) and provide me documentation of the problem.  Typically,  I only come to campus every other day so you need to either leave me a voice mail message or send me an email.  I will be very selective about giving make-ups.  You have the schedule of quizzes and tests, so check your schedule now. Conflicts that could have been avoided will be disregarded.

LATE PAPERS
The biggest problem with late papers is that it is unfair to the other students who turn theirs in on time.  Why should you get extra time?  Furthermore, the way the paper assignment is organized in this class, if you show up on the due date without one you will be asked to leave and it will count as an unexcused absence.  As a rule late papers will lose 10% of the grade for each day they are late.  It is possible to fail by being late.  If you need extra time please clear it with me.  As with other issues, your excuses need documented support and worthiness.  You have the schedule, don’t caught unprepared.

PLAGIARISM
Beyond turning papers in on time, you need to be very careful that you turn in your own work.  You are free to use any sources for your research, but you must cite your sources completely and accurately.   I will circulate referencing guidelines separately.  If there is any evidence that you are turning in work that is not your own you will fail the assignment, no questions asked.  If you repeat this offence you will fail the course.


 

Go To Anth 1 Projects

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