Readings

Many of the readings may be downloaded from the Project Gutenberg site. Those available for download have a direct link to the text listed next to the bibliographic entry.

LEC # TOPICS
1 Introduction: Selections from Genesis. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
2 Aristotle. Selections from Physics. (Written 350 B.C.E ) Book II. Translated by R. P. Hardie, and R. K. Gaye. (Adapted by A. C. Kibel.) (PDF)
3 Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (PDF)
4 Voltaire. Candide. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
Translated from the German of Doctor Ralph with the additions which were found in the Doctor's pocket when he died at Minden in the Year of our Lord 1759. (An anonymous translation, edited and adapted by A. C. Kibel.) (PDF)
5 Hume, David. Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. (Through Book V in the Excerpts.) (Excerpted, edited and annotated by A. C. Kibel.) (PDF)
6 Hume, David. Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. (Through Book V in the Excerpts.) (Excerpted, edited and annotated by A. C. Kibel.) (Remainder)
7 Paley, William D. D. Natural Theology. (Excerpted, edited and annotated by A. C. Kibel.)
8 Smith, Adam. Wealth of Nations. (Selections) (Excerpted by A. C. Kibel.) (PDF)
9 Malthus, Thomas. Principles of Population. Pp. 1-3, 9, 13, 14 and 18-19. (Excerpted and edited by A. C. Kibel.) An essay on the principle of population, as it affects the future improvement of society with remarks on the speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and other writers. (1798) (PDF)
10 Malthus, Thomas. Principles of Population. Pp. 1-3, 9, 13, 14 and 18-19. (Excerpted and edited by A. C. Kibel.) An essay on the principle of population, as it affects the future improvement of society with remarks on the speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and other writers. (1798) (continued)
11 Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. (Excerpts from Signet Edition.) (Download from Project Gutenberg)
  • Darwin's Introduction (not the editor's), pp. 27-30.

  • Chapter 1, p. 46 ("I have discussed the probable origin . . .") to p. 55, "slow, varying and insensible changes".

  • Chapter 2, pp. 59-62 (up to Doubtful Species); p. 67, from "Certainly no clear line . . ." to p. 68, end of section; pp. 71-73, last two sections.

  • Chapter 3 in its entirety.

  • Chapter 4, pp. 88-102; pp. 106-16; p. 124 to end of chapter.

  • Chapter 5, p. 144 to end of chapter.
12 Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. (continued)
  • Chapter 6 in its entirety.

  • Chapter 7, pp. 196-210 (. . . "variability; but as the case stands there is none."); p. 226 to end of chapter.
13 Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. (continued)
  • Chapter 8, p. 255 to end of chapter.

  • Chapter 14, pp. 394-417.

  • Chapter 15 in its entirety.
14 Butler, Samuel. Erewhon. (PDF)
15 Butler, Samuel. Erewhon. (continued)
16 Butler, Samuel. Erewhon. (continued)

Darwin, Charles. Excerpt from The Descent of Man. 1871. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
17 Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
18 Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. (continued)
19 Huxley, Thomas Henry. Prolegomena to Evolution and Ethics. 1894. (Annotated by A. C. Kibel.) (PDF)
20 Wells, H. G. The Time Machine. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
21 Wells, H. G. The Island of Dr Moreau. (Download from Project Gutenberg)
22 Wells, H. G. The Island of Dr Moreau. (continued)
23 Forster, E. M. The Machine Stops.
24 Turing, Alan, John Searle, and Daniel Dennett. Essays on Computers.
25 Gould, Stephen Jay, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennett. Essays on Natural Selection.
26 Review and Summation