COURSE UNIT INFORMATION SHEET (SYLLABUS)
2018/2019
Name
Theoretical Ethology
Teaching staff Dr. Rodrigo de Sá-Saraiva
ECTS
6
Functioning
3rd year, 1st semester
Learning goals
1. Undestanding behavior and inner processes as the interface between environment and organisms 2. Conceptualizing the evolution of environment representarions and becoming aware of the diversity of processes of a common function: questioning the environment answering to it 3. Understanding the human mind as an evolution of animal processes, and identifying the differences between human and pre-human minds
Skills to be developed 1. The student is supposed to develop an understanding of the mind and behavior as a system of functions that connect the organism to its evolutionary environment 2. Conceiving of the human mind as a system the function of which is no different from the others species, even if it has many specificities; this function is the connection between organism and environment 3. The student should be able to understand the basic concepts of ethology
Prerequisites (precedences) *
The are none
Contents 1. What is ethology: genesis and object 2. The function cycle and behavioural systems 3. Monitoring and adapting to a variable but expectable environment 4. Protozoans: trial and error of a single response 5. Invertebrates : internal maps, releasers and searching images 6. Vertebrates: the evolution of mental maps 7. Primates, equipotentiality, theory of mind 8. Fossil Homo and the evolution the meta-conscience; episodic memory, control functions, inhibitory responses, connection between different representations and the evolution of language 9. Social systems, diversity and its causes. 10. Ethology, culture and psychology: is Homo sapiens an eusocial species?
Bibliography
Alcock, J., 2013: Animal Behavior: an evolutionary approach, 10th Ed. Sinauer, Sunderland, Mass.
Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I. 1989: Human Ethology, Nova Iorque, Aldine de Gruyter.
Sá-Nogueira Saraiva, 2003: Mundos Animais, Universos Humanos: análise comparada da representação do ambiente. Fundação Gulbenkian, Lisboa.
Shettleworth, S. J., 2009: Cognition, Evolution and Behavor, 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press, Nova Iorque e Oxford.
Tomasello, M. e J. Call, 1997: Primate Cognition, Oxford University Press, Nova Iorque e Oxford. Uexküll, J.J. e G. Kriszat, 1934: Streifzüge durch die Umwelten von Tieren und Menschen; traduzido pela Livros do Brasil como Dos animais e dos homens., Lisboa, s/d
Teaching methods
Exposition and discussion of themes
Evaluation Regimes (General and/or Alternative) The students are evaluated by means of an essay to be written at the end of the term. This essay will be evaluated according to the following criteria: clarity, theoretical integration, literature knowledge, critical understanding. Participation in classes will also be evaluated
Evaluation Elements
(Dates due, weights, minimum required grades)
There will be a final evaluation element but participation in class may moderate the final grade by two points
Rules for grade improvement
The student must submit a new essay
Rules for students having previously failed the course unit *
Not applicable
Requirements on attendance and punctuality
Any student may miss two classes; further than that one point of the final grade will be deducted for each miss
Rules for special students
(workers, elite athletes, student body leaders, military, fathers/mothers, with special needs) *
Language of instruction
Portuguese or English, depending on the percentage of international students
Disciplinary violations and penalties
According to the Evaluation of Learning Regulation of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Lisbon, the following behaviors are considered as disciplinary offenses subject to disciplinary action: a) To use or attempt to use materials, information, notes, study resources or other objects and equipment not authorized in academic exercises; b) To help or try to help a colleague in committing a disciplinary offense; c) To submit the same written work for evaluation in different course units without permission from the instructors, even if with minor changes;
d) To present someone else’s work as one’s own; e) To forge, or change without permission from the author, any information or citation in an academic work; f)To interfere, change or attempt to change grades; g) To try to prevent or interfere with the proper functioning of classes, research or other academic activities; h) To make false accusations regarding instructors, governance bodies, other students or non-teaching staff of the FPUL; i) To falsify signatures in attendance sheets, documents relating to evaluation elements or in any official document relating to an academic process or status.
Disciplinary offenses committed in any assessment element can lead to its annulment, and must be reported to the Pedagogical Council or, considering their gravity and repetition, may lead to other penalties, to be determined by the Rector of the University of Lisbon.
* If applicable