Listed in: Religion, as RELI-115
Andrew C. Dole (Section 01)
The cognitive science of religion (CSR) is a relatively new field that applies developments in the cognitive sciences and in evolutionary psychology to the study of religion. This course will survey the recent literature on the subject, and will bring this material into conversation with “classical” naturalistic theorizing concerning religion. Topics covered will include the theory of cognitive "massive modularity" that grounds much of the work in this area; the theories of reciprocal altruism and coalitional psychology; and the question of whether religion is an adaptation or an "evolutionary by-product". We will read works by David Hume, Robert Trivers, Pascal Boyer, Justin Barrett, Richard Dawkins, Lee Kirkpatrick, Ara Norenzayan, and others.
Spring semester. Professor A. Dole.
How to handle overenrollment: null
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close reading and analysis of unfamiliar texts; brief written reflections; classroom discussions and presentations; formally written papers.
Section 01
Tu 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM FAYE 115
Th 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM FAYE 115
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation | Norenzayan, Ara | Required | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Religion Explained | Boyer, Pascal | Required | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.