We have the pleasure to invite You for yet another research seminar in the ‘BIOUNCERTAINTY’ research project organized with the Department of Philosophy of Natural Sciences of the Jagiellonian University. The subject of the seminar is ‘Overview of the emergence and evolution of religion from a Darwinian perspective’ and it will be delivered by Pierrick Bourrat from Macquarie University and University of Sydney. The seminar will take place on Thursday, 10th of October, at 5:30pm in room 25 of the Institute of Philosophy, 52 Grodzka Street.

Pierrick Bourrat acquired his PhD in the philosophy of biology at the University of Sydney in May 2015. His interests include the interplay of biological and cultural evolution and the evolution of religious beliefs.

Abstract: In the last 30 years or so researchers from different disciplines have proposed theories to explain religious phenomena from a Darwinian perspective. Some argue that religion is just an evolutionary by-product of our social brain, while others claim it is adaptive either for the individual or for the social group. In this seminar, I will compare the merits of each of these approaches. Instead of seeing them as alternative theories to explain the same phenomenon, I argue that these theories can be integrated in a more general framework. 

[The seminar will be held in English]