THE PHILOSOPHY OF BEHAVIORAL BIOLOGY

Course Objectives:

In this course, initially we will try to answer what behavior is with multiple scientific perspectives such as philosophy and psychology as well as biology. Therefore, we will understand the boundaries of behavior by using an interdisciplinary approach. Next, we will analzye behavior from genetic, developmental, evolutionary, and neurobiological perspectives, and determine both the relationships between these fields and behavior, and the way they affect behavior. We will determine the boundaries of molecular behavior genetics, socio-environmental approaches, physiology, and anatomy and establish causal relationships between human behavior and these approaches. We will try to explain free will and altruistic behaviors with human nature and biology.

Course Content:

This lecture is based on a combination of disciplines to explain the causal relationships of behavior and molecular biology, psychology, philosophy, and neurology. The lecture was also designed to equip students with the tools and skills required to understand the complexities of the behavior and to make their own contribution towards identification of the factors affecting it.