Global Arc

What is life? What is the organism? We'll survey some of the more interesting attempts to answer these questions, starting with the views of Darwin, Von Neumann, and Schrödinger, and then moving on to see what philosophers have had to say about them. Then we'll look at the work of some contemporary biologists, trying to understand which parts of the problem are now purely scientific, and which still have some philosophical aspects. Readings include selections from the works of Eigen and Schuster, Cairns-Smith, Buss, Kauffman, Maynard Smith, and Kimura, as well as a number of papers from science journals on topics of current interest.

The evolution of linguistic conventions is a kind of cultural evolution, and the evolution of the capacity for language must have been tangled up with the evolution of a capacity for having a human kind of culture. Lewis' Convention will be used as a point of departure for a tour through some of the more recent philosophical and scientific literature on the relationship between these two processes, including Skyrms Signals, Sterelnys Evolved Apprentice, Daniel Dennetts The evolution of language and music, and works by Goodman, Grice, Chomsky, Call and Tomasello, Enquist and Ghirlanda, Gergely and Csibra, etc.

A beginner's course that introduces the student to four areas of competence in Polish: speaking, grammatical knowledge, listening and reading comprehension, and writing. Emphasizes active language targeted at concrete practical contexts and communicative situations. Previous knowledge of other Slavic languages is advantageous, but not mandatory. Classes combine lectures, recitation, and drill formats. Five classes.

A continuation of PLS 101. This course continues to develop and refine the four language skills (speaking, grammatical knowledge, listening and reading comprehension, and writing). Emphasize active language targeted at concrete practical contexts and communicative situations. Classes combine lectures, recitation, and drill formats. Prerequisite: PLS 101. Five classes.

The course reviews, strengthens, and upgrades the knowledge from the first year of language acquisition (PLS101 and 102, or equivalent). While enhancing their familiarity with Polish grammatical structures, students will also develop a broader vocabulary and more idiomatic patterns of expression. All linguistic skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening comprehension) will be practiced, but the main emphasis will be on communicative competence, as well as on a closer acquaintance with Poland's culture and everyday life.

The class will provide an introduction to Polish poetry, together with developing students' vocabulary and conversation skills. Its goal is to expand students' literary knowledge as well as language abilities. The course will be conducted in Polish and English, with the readings mostly in Polish. Responses written in Polish will aim to augment the reading with active production in the language.

Students will be taught the fundamental skills of oral comprehension, speaking, reading and writing, while gaining exposure to the Portuguese-speaking world through the media, literature, film and the music of Brazil, Portugal and Lusophone Africa.

A continuation of POR 101. Students will continue to develop skills of oral/aural comprehension, speaking, reading and writing, while gaining further exposure to the Portuguese-speaking world through the media, literature, film and music of Brazil, Portugal and Lusophone Africa. Students who successfully complete POR 102 will place into POR 107.

Normally open to students already proficient in Spanish, French, or Italian, this course uses that knowledge as a basis for the accelerated learning of Portuguese. Emphasis on the concurrent development of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Three classes. Prerequisite: Spanish 107 or equivalent, or instructor's permission.

Students will continue to develop their speaking, reading and writing skills while being exposed to realia related to the Lusophone world, such as daily news, reports, short stories, chronicles, videos, films, critical reviews, etc. Through different communicative genres, students will learn not only the language but also the culture, art and lifestyle of a range of Portuguese-speaking societies.