COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: PHI 102 - 01 (Spring, 2003) 

COURSE TITLE: Philosophy of Human Nature

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Philip Blosser
        Contact info: Russell House, No. 7; P.O. Box 7211; Tel. ext. 7186.

         Webpage: http://www.lrc.edu/rel/blosser/Homepage.htm; OR to find this webpage easily from
         the LRC website, type “Blosser” into the website SEARCH window, click on “Search,” then find
         “Blosser’s homepage.”

STUDY SHEETS:  No. 1: click here.
                                No. 2: click here.    
                                No. 3: click here.

• Brief Guide to Writing Philosophy Papers: click here

REACTION PAPER TOPICS: click here.

TEXTS:
    1. Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin, 1993)
    2. Peter Kreeft, The Best Things in Life (InterVarsity, 1984)
    3. L. Stevenson, Ten Theories of Human Nature (Oxford, 1998)
    4. Thomas V. Morris, Making Sense of It All (Eerdmans, 1992)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Critical examination of alternative assumptions concerning the nature of truth, human existence, the good person, the good society. Introductory course.

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES/COMPETENCIES:
This course in critical thinking is designed to acquaint the student with the art of critical thinking and philosophical analysis. The course will include (1) a very brief overview of the history of philosophy, (2) a basic survey of major themes of philosophical reflection--such as the theory of knowledge, theory of reality, and moral theory; (3) a sustained examination of the problem of faith and reason, and (4) an introduction to the art of philosophical reflection and analysis (i.e., critical thinking and logical argument).

The basic theme of our reflection and the subject of our analysis will be the role of philosophy in the way we understand ourselves. This includes such issues as: the nature of human "nature," "being," "knowing," "good & evil." Most of us find such notions so familiar and ordinary that we don't give them a second thought. But as Socrates said: "The unexamined life is not worth living." What is a human being, after all? Something more than an animal? If so, what? Can we know? What is the difference between our way of knowing material things (such as trees) and mental things (such as numbers)? What kind of "being" does a piece of music have? Are people by nature good? Why, or why not? What is the truly good life? Can we be happy without trying to be morally good?

The basic issues we will be examining can be conveniently grouped around four central questions: What can we know? What should we do? What may we hope? and What is man? We shall be examining how some great thinkers of the western tradition have answered these kinds of questions by reading and

discussing together a selection of readings. Furthermore, we shall be examining how these questions have been answered in three basic historical periods--ancient, medieval, modern, and postmodern.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Selected readings, reaction papers (approx. 6), two tests, including final exam.  Reaction papers must be submitted electronically in “text only” format as an email attachment, along with a print out (hard copy) on the due date.

Requirements: Formal requirements: completing reaction papers and passing exams.  Material requirements that will help you meet this goal: reading your assignments, attending class, paying attention (getting enough sleep), asking for clarification when you have questions, taking careful notes, and participating in discussions as you are able.

Format: The format of the course will be predominantly lecture, but with some discussion.  Students are encouraged to ask questions and, at the appropriate times, to enter into discussion of the ideas at issue.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:
    1. Plato's Dialogues  (The Last Days of Socrates, "Apology," "Crito," "Phaedo"):
                Topics: Socrates’ trial, Plato’s anthropology, view of the body, soul, death, good and evil
    2. Liberal arts & the meaning of life: dialogues on money, sex, and power  (Readings from The Best
                Things in Life):
                Topics: means and ends; liberal arts; summum bonum; hedonism, sex, love, values.
    3. What is human nature? (Readings from Ten Theories of Human Nature, chs. 3-8):
                Topics: views of reality, anthropology, diagnoses and prescriptions for the human condition
                found in Plato, the Bible, Marx, Freud, Sartre, and Skinner
    4. Pascal's cartography of the human spirit (Readings from Making Sense of It All):
                Topics: Pascal’s life, views of indifference, diversion, meaning of life, skepticism, proof, the
                ‘hiddenness’ of God, wagering one’s life on God’s existence or nonexistence, the enigmatic
                nature (greatness and banality, good and evil) of the human condition, faith and evidence.

EVALUATION:

Reaction papers = 30% of final grade; two tests = 60% (30% each); class participation = 10%. 

Two reaction papers will be submitted for grades (10% each), one before mid-term, the other before the final; the remainder are collectively worth 10%, based on considerations of consistent quality and promptness.

Final exam time: TBA (The final is required and cannot be re-scheduled.)

Grades will be based on reaction papers (quality, effort, promptness--not on point of view), tests (which will involve a mix of objective, short-answer, and essay questions) and quality of participation.

Exams: excepting extenuating cases, tests may be taken only on days scheduled.  If a test is missed, there is no penalty.  However, the material covered by the missed test will be included as part of a cumulative final examination (i.e., for the person who has missed a test, the final will be cumulative with respect to the material on the missed test).

Attendence policy: only 3 excused absences without final grade being affected.

Academic integrity is expected and respected.  Cheating (copying, plagiarism, etc.) is morally reprehensible, will not be tolerated, and if discovered will result in automatic failure of the course. 

GRADING SCALE:

List of Blosser's current courses