[SydPhil] MQ Philosophy Work in Progress (WIP) seminar Paul Griffiths (University of Sydney)

[Emily Hughes]

Dear all,


You are warmly invited to the next MQ Philosophy Work in Progress (WIP)
seminar which will be given by *Paul Griffiths (University of Sydney)*



The details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 15th of September

Time:   13:00-14:00

Room: 17WW 113



Zoom Link:
*https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/JpU9COMKzVTwvz9oruEfBBiGI8Ee?domain=macquarie.zoom.us
<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/S0w5CP7LAXfZ38rqAS0hllixcsYe?domain=aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com>



*Title: Biological sexes are life-history stages*



*Abstract: *Biologists define sex by ‘anisogamy’ - “The biological
definition of the two sexes is simple: biologically, the female sex is
defined as the adult phenotype that produces the larger gametes in
anisogamous systems, while the male sex is the adult phenotype that
produces the smaller gametes.” (de Vries and Lehtonen 2023, 928).  After
noting some ways in which this definition has been misunderstood in the
philosophical literature, this paper defends three claims about biological
sexes defined by anisogamy. First, sexes are life-history stages:
collections of phenotypic traits which implement a stage in an evolved
life-history strategy. This is most obvious in sequential hermaphrodites,
but is equally true of species that only develop one sex during their life
cycle. Second, sex-determination is a process. The operation of a ‘sex
determination mechanism’ does not instantly create a sexual phenotype. Sex
determination mechanisms initiate developmental processes that result in
the development of one or more sexual phenotypes later in the life-cycle.
Third, because sex determination is an extended developmental process many
factors can interfere with it, and some biological individuals do not
follow the standard patterns of sexual development in their species. In
some cases there is no strictly biological rationale for describing the
resulting ‘idiosyncratic’ phenotype as male, female or hermaphrodite.
Biology can explain why development has departed from a typical life-cycle
but when asked for the ‘real’ biological sex of the individual, biology
should answer ‘it is what it is’.



Further information about the seminar series including details on future
talks can be found at the seminar webpage:
*https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/12mPCQnMBZf9oMEm4hMi99iGuecc?domain=mqphilosophy.github.io
<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/DF-ECROND2uQ5jk8PIOs66i1DrfA?domain=aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com>


We look forward to seeing you there.


*Dr Emily Hughes *(she/her)

ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Fellow in Philosophy

School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts

Michael Kirby Building, 17 Wally's Walk

Level 2, Room 233

Macquarie University – Wallumattagal Campus, Dharug Country

NSW 2109 Australia

E: emily.hughes at mq.edu.au

W: https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/i8k0CVARKgCXgNL1jsQtrriEfnBq?domain=researchers.mq.edu.au



*I acknowledge that Macquarie University stands on the land of the Dharug
Nation, land that was never ceded. I pay my respects to the Dharug
people, the Wallumattagal clan, and their Elders past and present. Always
was, always will be, Aboriginal land.*