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    • Topic GuideCosmos, Consciousness, Meaning: Join us as we explore the fundamental questions of existence.
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project

Philosophy of Biology

How can philosophy advance biology? How can biology influence philosophy? In this in-depth series on Philosophy of Biology, featuring pioneers and leaders of this burgeoning field, Closer to Truth explores its insights, novelties, challenges and implications. We ask evolution how life on earth came to be as it is, and how humans came to be as we are. We address biologically based issues, such as sex/gender, race, cognition, culture, morality, healthcare, religion, alien life, and more. When philosophy and biology meet, sparks fly as both are enriched.

Philosophy of Biology

Cover image for Why Philosophy of Biology?

Philosophy of Biology has two sides: the process of science and the content of biology. We address key questions. What is the nature of life? How does evolution work and what...

video

Why Philosophy of Biology?

Episode 1

Season 23

26:47

Watch

Cover image for How Can Philosophy Probe Evolutionary Biology?

Explore evolution—its scope and depth. How did life on earth come to be as it is, and how did humans come to be as we are? What are the deep principles driving evolution?...

video

How Can Philosophy Probe Evolutionary Biology?

Episode 1

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What are the Units or Levels of Selection?

While evolution is how life on earth came to be, where does the evolution occur? At what level of the hierarchy of life—from genes to individuals to groups to...

video

What are the Units or Levels of Selection?

Episode 2

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What is Evolutionary Developmental Biology?

Two big ideas in biology: the evolution of species via mutation, fitness and natural selection; and the embryological development of individuals, from fertilized egg to whole...

video

What is Evolutionary Developmental Biology?

Episode 3

Season 23

26:46

Watch

Cover image for How do Reductionism and Emergence Dance?

Two big ideas in biology: the evolution of species via mutation, fitness and natural selection; and the embryological development of individuals, from fertilized egg to whole...

video

How do Reductionism and Emergence Dance?

Episode 3

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What is Biological Information?

What is information in biology? information is essential for analyzing data and testing hypotheses. But what is information in molecular genetics and neuroscience? What in...

video

What is Biological Information?

Episode 2

Season 23

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What is Human Nature?

What is “human” nature? While human beings are animals, we believe we are special, radically different from other animals. Why? What traits are unique to humans? Are we...

video

What is Human Nature?

Episode 4

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for How did Cognition and Emotion Evolve?

What can evolution reveal about the developmental history of thinking and feeling? How did cognition and emotion (affect) co-develop over evolutionary time? Can evolution...

video

How did Cognition and Emotion Evolve?

Episode 5

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for Can Philosophy Discern Sex and Gender?

Sexual questions abound. What is “normal” sexual behavior in light of diverse sexual variations? LGBTQ+ issues? Is sex in animal models relevant for human sexuality? A...

video

Can Philosophy Discern Sex and Gender?

Episode 7

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for Is Race Real?

Race is obviously real—historically, socially, politically. What about biologically? We explore biological facts about race and their implications. What’s the...

video

Is Race Real?

Episode 4

Season 23

26:47

Watch

Cover image for Evolution vs. Religion: Anything New?

Two kinds of questions probe evolution vs. religion. The first explores discrepancies, even contradictions, between the science of evolution and the beliefs of religion. The...

video

Evolution vs. Religion: Anything New?

Episode 6

Season 27

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What Does Transhumanism Foreshadow?

Humanity’s future is now framed by artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing interventions in the body to enhance features and functions. This is transhumanism....

video

What Does Transhumanism Foreshadow?

Episode 8

Season 25

26:47

Watch

Cover image for What Would Alien Life & Intelligences Mean?

What could life be as we don’t know it? Three transitions in astrobiology. Non-life to life. Life to intelligent life. Intelligent life to technological civilization. For...

video

What Would Alien Life & Intelligences Mean?

26:47

Watch


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