Download Document 8546405

King’s College London
This paper is part of an examination of the College counting towards
the award of a degree. Examinations are governed by the College
Regulations under the authority of the Academic Board.
BSc/BA EXAMINATION
6AANA050
PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY
EXAMINATION PERIOD 2 (SUMMER 2014)
TIME ALLOWED: 2 HOURS
Answer TWO questions.
Avoid overlap in your answers.
DO NOT REMOVE THIS EXAM PAPER FROM THE EXAMINATION ROOM
TURN OVER WHEN INSTRUCTED
2014 © King’s College London
6AANA050
Answer TWO questions.
1 “Natural selection ensures that all traits are optimally designed.”
Discuss.
2 When, if at all, can we explain some item by citing an effect it
produces?
3 What is the definition of biological altruism? How might it be
explained within a Darwinian perspective?
4 What is the gene’s-eye perspective? Does it help us to
understand biological evolution?
5 Could group selection be a significant force in biological
evolution?
6 Is the selection of non-genetic traits a significant force in
biological evolution?
7 Can any good sense be given to the notion of an innate biological
trait?
8 Is there any good sense in which sequences of DNA represent
anything? If so, what do they represent?
9 What is the Baldwin Effect and is it consistent with biological
theory?
10 What if anything is wrong with “evolutionary psychology”?
FINAL PAGE
2