HUMANS IN NATURE
Emeritus Professor Sebastian van As, Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Cape Town
Monday 26–Wednesday 28 January 11.15 am COURSE FEES R345; Staff and students R173
With the threats of the current Anthropocene it is prudent to reassess the position of humans in nature. Most Westerners assume that there is a distinct dichotomy between animals and humans. Such a distinction may be an illusion. We are far more animal and part of nature than we are likely to admit. The purpose of this course is to re-think the place we occupy in nature. Instead of being on top of the pyramid, we may be a mere footnote in nature. The course will discuss the topic at various levels. It will start with the origin and definitions of life and the evolution of plants and animals. Following this will be the evolution of primates and Homo sapiens, finally leading up to the evolution of consciousness.
Lecture titles
- The origin and definitions of life
- The origin and evolution of man
- The evolution of consciousness
Recommended reading
Damasio, A. 2011. Self Comes to Mind. New York: Pantheon Books. Darwin, C. 1859. On the Origin of Species. London: John Murray.
Dennet, D. 2017. From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds. New York: WW Norton and Company.
Harari, YN. 2011. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Israel: Dvir Publishing Company Ltd.
TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575462786