About this course: Throughout history, the vast majority of people around the globe have believed they have, however defined, a “soul.” While the question of whether the soul exists cannot be answered by science, what we can study are the causes and consequences of various beliefs about the soul and its prospects of surviving the death of the body. Why are soul and afterlife beliefs so common in human history? Are there adaptive advantages to assuming souls exist? Are there brain structures that have been shaped by environmental pressures that provide the foundation of body/mind dualism that is such a prominent feature of many religions? How do these beliefs shape the worldviews of different cultures and our collective lives? What is the role of competing afterlife beliefs in religion, science, politics, and war? This course explores several facets of this relatively unexplored but profoundly important aspect of human thought and behavior. The course consists mainly of 70 to 80 minute lectures, typically broken up into 3 segments, recorded from a course offered by Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences. These videos include slides and some embedded video clips. Most lectures are accompanied by slides used during the lecture, also including recommended reading assignment which may provide additional opportunities to reflect on your studies. Due to the lengthiness of this class and natural progression, the online course has been separated into 3 units, this is Unit 3.
Taught by: Prof. Daniel M. Ogilvie, Professor of Psychology
Psychology
Taught by: Prof. Leonard W. Hamilton, Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
| Commitment | 3-5 小时/周 |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Romanian |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
- Reading: Welcome to the Course
- Reading: Learner Support
- Video: Evolutionary Psychology Part B
- Video: Evolutionary Psychology Part C
- Reading: Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer
- Video: The Evolution of the Human Brain Part B
- Video: The Evolution of the Human Brain Part C
- Video: The Human Spark Part B
- Video: The Human Spark Part C
- Video: NPR audio interview - Richard Leakey Reflects On Human Past And Future
- Video: The Scopes Trial Part B
- Video: The Scopes Trial Part C
- Reading: State vs John Scopes ("The Monkey Trial")
- Reading: Kitzmiller vs Dover Area School District: Teaching Intelligent Design in Public Schools
- Reading: Defeating Creationism in the Courtroom, But Not in the Classroom
- Video: Where Do We Go From Here Part B
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: Grading and Logistics
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This Course gives a relation to the Brain, Beliefs and the religious approach for the existing belief systems. The combination of the species, brain development, and the adaptation of the brain to the needed situations are very clearly explained.
Soul Beliefs was a practically useful course for me. Thanks to a well presented course material, I have learned that the ultimate evolutionary adaptation ability belongs to those traits that are perceived as promoting survival of the species whereas in reality they survive at the expense of the species.
Professor Ogilvie and professor Hamilton did fine job in making an emotionally laden issue accessible to a broader audience. Rather than taking polemic positions against soul beliefs and established religions, their goal is to make clear how soul beliefs worked throughout the history and explain with a lot of examples and evidence how the evolution theory works. My only remark is that whole course could fit into two parts. That would make things easier for many users.
Very interesting and engaging course. Loved the work that Professors Ogilvy and Hamilton did to put the 3 units together.