This page contains the course syllabus for Philosophy of Human Nature (PHI 102-11) as well as additional useful information, including:
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: PHI 102 - 11 (Summer Session I, 2004)
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/index.html;
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.”
No. 1: click here. No. 2: click here. No. 3: 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. 4-6), two tests, including final exam. Papers must be submitted on due dates to receive full credit. Late ("make-up") papers will be collected at the end of the course for partial credit.
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 = 20% of final grade; two tests = 60% (30% each); class participation = 20%.
Reaction papers constitute 20% of the final grade-- of which 10% is based on submitting satisfactory papers in fulfillment of periodic assignments, and the other 10% is based on a single reaction paper submitted for a letter grade at the end of the semester. Reaction papers must be submitted on time in class in order to receive full credit. Late ("make up") papers may be submitted at the end of the course for partial credit.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. (For further grading criteria, see online syllabus).
Exams: excepting extenuating cases, the mid-term exam may be taken only on days scheduled. If the 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 the mid-term, the final will be cumulative).
ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Attendance – Regular attendance is expected of all members of the class taking the course for academic credit. Students with a legitimate excuse for absence should present it immediately on return to class (not at the end of the semester). Attention is called to the General Catalog p. 83 (2003-2005): "Students are expected to attend classes and laboratories as specified by the instructor, who will state his or her attendance policy in writing at the beginning of the semester. No allowed number of absences is automatically granted to a student. Ordinarily, a student will not receive credit if 25% of the scheduled class meetings are missed." For this course, which meets only 5 weeks, no more than 3 absences can be tolerated without affecting the final grade, and no more than 6 absences to receive course credit.
Academic Integrity – The student is referred to the General Catalog, pp. 69-75 (2003-2005) for the items that define academic integrity for faculty and students. The instructor will abide by the Catalog rubrics in all instances.
Continued enrollment in the course is taken as contractually binding agreement between the student and the instructor (and institution) to the terms specified above.
A 94-100 with distinction A- 92-93 B+ 90-92 B 84-89 B- 82-83 C+ 80-81 C 74-79 C- 72-73 D+ 70-71 D 64-69 D- 62-63 F+ 60-61 F 52-59 F- 0-51 plus a lashing !!!!!!!
Course Schedule: see "assignments" at the top of the page.
List of Blosser's current courses
______________________________________________________________________________________________