On Human Nature/ final paper/ due by 5 pm 2 March

About 3 pages (typed)

 

Choose one of the following:

 

  1. Pick 1 (only 1) of your On Human Nature DPs.  Expand on your reaction.  Be sure to use examples, reference sections in the text (use page numbers), and consider other sources of info (reference in text) such as the videos shown in class, the Buss article, the Quammen article, SA article(s).  Attach your original DP as well.

 

  1. Choose a specific quote from On Human Nature about a topic that you have NOT chosen already in a DP.  Be sure to cite the quote, the page number.  A) Be sure to explain why you chose this quote on which to write your essay  B) In your essay reaction to the quote, be sure to use examples from OHN (be sure to cite page numbers), and consider (reference) other sources from class that you have read or seen (videos) as you develop your theme.

 

  1. Go back to Chapter 1:  Dilemma.  What were those two dilemmas?  Now that you have finished the book, reflect on how well (or not) Wilson presented evidence related to the dilemmas.  Do you agree with him?  Use examples from the book, your notes, other readings, videos, etc.

 

  1. Now for something different:  Read the following:  http://www.nybooks.com/articles/9017 and the reply by Wilson:  http://www.nybooks.com/articles/9003 These comments are really related to the last chapter of Wilson’s book:  Sociobiology published in 1975, but they may help explain why Wilson wrote On Human Nature in 1977.  Now re-read the preface(s) of On Human Nature.  So what do you think?  Be sure to reference the Preface(s), the Allen et al article and the Wilson article.  Don’t try to react to all the points made by Allen et al!