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851-0269-00L 3 Credits DS D-GESS

Debating Human Nature: Conflict, Cooperation, and Culture

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Willem Edward Church
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:31:44

Abstract

Explore key debates about human nature, from competition and selfishness to cooperation and culture. This course critically examines how scientific and philosophical perspectives—from Darwinism to cultural evolution—have shaped modern understandings of sociality, conflict, and cooperation, preparing students to analyze how these concepts influence public discourse and social policy.

Objective

Students will develop analytical skills to critically assess claims about human nature and evolution, understand how scientific debates shape public discourse, and evaluate the social implications of perspectives ranging from Social Darwinism to modern cultural evolution theories.

Content

Are humans fundamentally selfish or cooperative? Are societies driven primarily by competition, or does social life depend on trust and mutual aid? These questions lie at the heart of debates that have shaped science and philosophy for centuries, influencing disciplines as diverse as evolutionary biology, economics, and political theory. Understanding these debates is essential not just for grasping what it means to be human but for evaluating contemporary arguments that invoke human nature to justify economic systems, political ideologies, and social hierarchies. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, interpretations of evolutionary theory emphasized scarcity and competition as driving forces in human life. More recent perspectives, however, challenge this view by highlighting the social, cooperative, and cultural dimensions that are equally fundamental to human behavior. This course critically examines how evolving scientific and intellectual traditions have framed these competing narratives, tracing the shifting influence of Darwinism, sociobiology, human behavioral ecology, and cultural evolution. We will also explore how scientific claims about human nature shape public discourse—often used to justify economic policies, moral norms, and social inequalities. From Social Darwinism to modern theories of cultural evolution, we will dissect how different frameworks not only reflect but actively shape societal values and practices. Rather than assuming a fixed "essence" of humanity, we will interrogate how historical contexts shape the way human nature is conceptualized and debated. Students will gain the analytical skills to critically evaluate claims about evolution and human behavior, equipping them to engage thoughtfully with both academic research and contemporary public debates. By examining key controversies and their implications, students will leave the course prepared to challenge simplistic narratives about human nature.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DS

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Max Places
40

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Debating Human Nature: Conflict, Cooperation, and Culture
  • Wed 18:15-20:00 (HG E 33.5)
2 h weekly

Offered In

  • Wissenschaft im Kontext (Science in Perspective) (In Kursen aus dem Programm “Wissenschaft im Kontext” lernen Studierende, die MINT Fächer der ETH aus der Perspektive der Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften zu reflektieren. Nur die in diesem Abschnitt aufgelisteten Fächer können als "Wissenschaft im Kontext" angerechnet werden.)