Please answer exactly two of the following questions. Your answer for each must not exceed 250 words.
No bibliographic information is needed. Each answer is worth 5 marks. Marks will be deducted if you answer more than two.
1. What is Hull’s argument against the claim that there is an intrinsic characteristic of human beings that is necessary for being human? Why does that show that biological essentialism about human nature is false?
2. Explain Machery’s account of human nature. What distinguishes it from biological essentialism about human nature?
3. Why, according to Sober, does population thinking undermine biological essentialism? Explain briefly.
4. How does Gould reject Dawkins’ claim that the gene is the unit of selection? Explain Gould’s argument, by briefly motivating the premises.
