PHIL 152

Philosophy and Theories of Human Nature

Please note: this is archived course information from 2016 for PHIL 152.

Description

What is human nature? In this course we reflect upon how we might make sense of the kind of beings that we are, and we ask whether it is possible to articulate an answer that is truthful, robust and coherent. The course covers competing conceptions of human nature found in religious, philosophical, political and evolutionary thought alongside theories that deny the existence of a human nature. We will discuss Plato, Jean-Paul Sartre and Buddhism during the first six weeks, and during the second six weeks, Sigmund Freud and evolutionary psychology.

View the course syllabus

Availability 2016

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Distinguished Professor Stephen Davies
Lecturer(s) Distinguished Professor Stephen Davies
Professor Robert Wicks

Reading/Texts

Course readings will be posted on Cecil.

Assessment

Coursework + exam

Points

PHIL 152: 15 points