It will be interesting to compare these thoughts to those of earlier scientists or philosophers who, though they knew a great deal, simply did not have some key pieces of information at their disposal. Similarly, we will examine our own genetic heritage, looking at the nature of inheritance from the level of pure, naked DNA to the level of the traits we carry. We will extend these thoughts to the question of genetic change, mutation, and the ways that our histories have been shaped by these events. Once we begin to see what current molecular biology tells us, it will be enlightening to compare our conclusions to those of our ancestors who did not have access to the kind of detailed knowledge that is available to us now. An hour later she's running around the house, happily waving a five dollar bill.
Most people do, in explicit violation of logical rules.
Yet, the same species that finds cure for cancer, sends people to the moon and maintains sophisticated social organizations also engages in pointless wars, racism, gambling, cults, biased decision making and by and large demonstrates consistent and predictable failure to follow simple rules of logic. In investigating the complicated relations between logical rules and human actual reasoning we'll cover some principle of logical theory, uncover major human inferential failures, examine critically major theories of rationality and explore the reasons behind the apparent human irrationality. Students are expected to take two tests and a final exam, write 3-4 short papers, offer one group presentation based on independent research, and develop a lively intellectual curiosity about the ways our minds work. Agricultural biotechnology has profoundly affected the way food is produced. However, the ramifications of this technology extend far beyond its agronomic intentions.