Human Person Syllabus

Philosophy 151
Section A - MW 6:00am-9:15am
Wister 202

Summer II - 2008

catalog description:

The nature of the human person is studied from philosophical perspectives that seek to integrate the biological, social, political, and religious dimensions of human life. Possible topics include freedom and determinism, body and soul, mortality and immortality, the individual and society, the meaningful and the absurd, human origins and human ends.

course overview:

Welcome to Philosophy 151, "The Human Person."

General: This course will serve, first of all, as an introduction to the discipline and practice of philosophy. We will be attempting to understand what philosophy is about, how it differs from other academic disciplines, what philosophers are interested in, and what the distinctive methods of philosophy are. We will also be gaining an overview of the history of philosophy from the ancient Greeks and Judeo-Christian scriptures through the Enlightenment and up to the 20^th century.

Specific: Our focus will be the philosophical study of human nature - what it means to be human, the human purpose, and how humans differ from other creatures. In particular, we will be looking at the unique abilities and functions of human beings, the patterns of human development, the nature of the "soul," free will and determinism, nature and nurture, and related themes.

required texts:

The following texts will be required for this course: Aristotle, Introductory Readings, trans. by T. Irwin and G. Fine, Hackett Publishing.

Stevenson, ed., The Study of Human Nature: A Reader (2^nd Ed.), Oxford University Press. Both books are available in the university bookstore. In addition, a small packet of photocopied readings will be handed out in class at a nominal cost.

objectives:

This course is designed to familiarize you with philosophy and the issues that are raised by the discipline, both in what is unique to philosophy and in terms of abilities that will serve you more widely.

Part of the goal here is academic. In particular, philosophy will challenge you to think critically, to take a second look, and to attempt to uncover hidden assumptions. More generally, philosophy will hone your reading, communication, and writing skills.

Part of the goal is also personal and spiritual. The issues that philosophy raises are important to the meaning of what it is to be human, what constitutes a good life, and how we fit into a larger human community. Thus philosophy will challenge you to think about your own goals, your basic commitments, as well as your relationship to others and to God.

expectations:

If this class is going to be interesting and worthwhile, you will have to contribute substantially. This will require your attention to several areas: Attendance: You will need to come to class regularly and on time. I do not have an attendance policy, but failure to attend will affect your grade negatively. Excused absences should be arranged beforehand if possible or discussed with me at your earliest convenience. You are responsible for all missed work.

Participation: Everyone is expected to contribute to the class through active class discussion, raising questions, involvement in any group activities, and completion of all assigned readings and coursework.

Readings: About 30-50 pages per week of reading will be assigned, depending upon content and difficulty. It is your responsibility to read carefully and to understand the material to the best of your ability prior to the class in which it will be discussed. For a timetable of readings, consult the Schedule of Readings.

Homework: You will be assigned homework on many of the readings in order to focus your reading and so that I can track your reading and understanding. These will be turned in and, though un-graded, will contribute to your final grade.

Quizzes: There will be quizzes approximately twice a week. They will be multiple-choice, consisting in only five questions apiece, and designed to make sure you are keeping up with the reading. Since I am giving quizzes, there will be no exams.

Essays: You will be completing three essays for this class, ranging in length from 2-3 pages to 6-8 pages. Descriptions, requirements, and topics for these essays are already on the website.

Office hours: I am available in my office about six hours per week and by appointment. I am always more than happy to talk to you about any aspect of your experience here at La Salle and in connection with this class. I will readily discuss readings, work on topics, go over drafts, and so on. Please make use of this opportunity, as it will benefit us both greatly. All assigned work should be completed on time. Late work will be received at a reduced grade. Nevertheless, it is always better turned in late than never.

Plagiarism is unacceptable. All information and quotations from sources must be documented. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that assignment. Please review La Salle's Academic Integrity Policy for further details.

grading:

The following is a breakdown of how your various grades will be weighed:

Participation
Homework total
Quiz total
Essay One
Essay Two
Essay Three

15%
15%
15%
15%
20%
20%