Philosophical Anthropology/PH 174

Course Syllabus

Instructor: William D. Adams

Meeting schedule and location: Tuesdays, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Lovejoy 246.

Office hours: Mondays, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., and by appointment (Eustis 301).

Course description, key issues, and themes:

This course offers a broad historical survey of some of the ways in which important Western philosophers, religious thinkers, social scientists, and writers have thought about what it means to be human. What is human nature? How does human nature differ from animal nature? Is there a specifically human nature? If so, does it exist outside of time and circumstance? If not, what are the other factors and conditions that affect and shape human being? How do we come to know things about human nature and human being? Finally, how do ideas of human nature and human being affect matters of personal identity and collective arrangements and practices?

Requirements:

Class attendance: students are expected to attend every class. Permission to miss a class must be requested and granted in advance. No exceptions. Student athletes should review season practice and competition schedules at the start of the semester to identify possible conflicts with class meetings or examinations. Unexcused absences will influence final grades.

Class participation: students are expected to be active participants in class discussions.

Writing: this course involves a significant amount of writing. There will be three required papers. Due dates are noted in the class schedule and paper topics will be suggested in advance. Students will work with writing fellow Emilie Coulson on planning and writing papers. Emilie will also provide several writing workshops during the semester.

Grading:

Grading will be based primarily on writing assignments, but will also take account of the quality of participation in class.

Required texts:

Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics. Oxford World Classics. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 1998

St. Augustine, The Political Writings (New Edition). Gateway Editions.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 1991

Jean Jacques Rousseau, 'The Discourses', and Other Political Writings. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. 1997.

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein. Pocket Books. New York. 2004

Karl Marx, Selected Writings. Hackett Publishing. Indianapolis. 1994.

Sigmund Freud, Five Lectures on Psychoanalysis, W.W. Norton. New York. 1961.

Jean Paul Sartre, Existentialism and Human Emotions. Philosophical Library. 1984.

Clifford Geertz, "The Impact of the Concept of Culture on the Concept of Man," and "Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight." The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books. New York. 1973.

Class, reading, discussion and assignment schedule:

Tuesday, September 12

First meeting; course organization, requirements, and key issues

Tuesday, September 19

Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics
Book I, Chapters 1-5, 7, 13; Book II, Chapters 1-3, 5-6; Book III, Chapters 1-2, 6, 10; Book IV, Chapters 1-3, 5-7; Book V, Chapter I; Book VI, Chapters 3-7; Book VIII, Chapters 1-3, 7-9; Book IX, Chapter 9; Book X, Chapters 6-7, 9

Tuesday, September 26

St. Augustine, The Political Writings

Tuesday, October 3

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

Tuesday, October 10

First paper due

Tuesday, October 24

Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality

Tuesday, October 31

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

Tuesday, November 7

Karl Marx, Selected Writings

Tuesday, November 14

Second paper due

Tuesday, November 21

Sigmund Freud, Five Lectures on Psychoanalysis

Tuesday, November 28

Jean Paul Sartre, Existentialism and Human Emotions

Tuesday, Dec 5

Clifford Geertz, "The Impact of the Concept of Culture on the Concept of Man," and "Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight."

Tuesday, December 12

Final paper due