Seminar in Law, Biology, and Behavior

LEX 8251

This seminar will explore the extent to which an understanding of evolved human psychology may contribute to more effective policies regarding the regulation of human behavior. The seminar will begin with an overview of evolutionary theory and then examine the increasing body of evidence that the human mind has been shaped by natural selection, rendering it the primary generator of human social practices. The seminar will focus on the extent to which evolutionary insights may be useful in furthering pre-articulated goals in specific contexts, such as those involving the policies of sexual equality in the workplace; infanticide and child abuse; spousal abuse; child support; control of urban violence; sexual behavior (including sexual orientation); racism, xenophobia and immigration policy. Seminar readings will be drawn from literature in the fields of biology, anthropology, psychology, and law. Prior experience in the non-legal fields is not required.

October 11, 2007