What's So Special about Genes?

Topic: 
What's So Special about Genes?
Date & Time: 
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 - 16:00 to 17:30
Speaker: 
Brad Weslake, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Location: 
Room 210, NYU Shanghai | 1555 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Abstract:

An open question in philosophy of biology is whether there is any respect in which the genetic causes are objectively more important than the non-genetic causes of development. I argue that some of the most influential concepts of causal importance defended by philosophers of biology in this context involve a common confusion, and outline some replacements.


NYU Shanghai STEM seminar series is a weekly seminar series on every Wednesday. Please see below schedule of STEM seminar series in 2017 Fall Semester.

  • October 11: Gerard Ben Arous, Professor of Mathematics
  • October 18: Gus Xia, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
  • October 25: Brad Weslake, Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • November 1: William Glover, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • November 8: Chuck Newman, Professor of Mathematics & Vladas Sidorvicius, Professor of Mathematics
  • November 15: Tim Byrnes, Assistant Professor of Physics
  • November 29: Xing Tian, Assistant Professor of Neural and Cognitive Sciences & Zheng Zhang, Professor of Computer Science
  • December 6: Yves Le Jan, Visiting Professor of Mathematics
Location & Details: 

To our visitors

  • RSVP may be required for this event.  Please check event details
  • Visitors will need to present a photo ID at the entrance
  • There is no public parking on campus
  • Entrance only through the South Lobby (1555 Century Avenue) 
  • Taxi card
  • Metro: Century Avenue Station, Metro Lines 2/4/6/9 Exit 6 in location B
  • Bus: Century Avenue at Pudian Road, Bus Lines 169/987