Philosophy of Human Nature (PHI 271)

Fall 2007

SUNY Cortland, 3 credits, PS course

Dr. Mecke Nagel, Instructor

Office: Old Main 138a, Office Hours: W 11-1pm and by appt.

Office phone: 753-2013 or email nagelm@cortland.edu

 

Course Description:

(B) Discussion of various existential approaches to the problem and meaning of human existence. Focus on existentialist themes, such as self-consciousness, freedom, absurdity, responsibility, being and nothingness. (3 cr. hr.)

 

Evaluation:

This class is not only discussion centered but it will also satisfy a Presentation Skills requirement. Therefore, participation is essential for everybody.  We will bring ÒmotivatedÓ questions, i.e. questions and critiques we have about the text(s) and we will attempt to answer our question as well (e.g. Ôwhat the author could mean is the following:...Õ).  The purpose of this exercise is to Òhave a stakeÓ in the interpretations of a text and perspective and importantly that we invite other class participants to offer their viewpoints.  I will occasionally collect your questions.

 

To fulfill the requirements, in addition to regular attendance, you will give one formal class presentation, and write 3 papers (each: 4-5 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12pt font Times Roman) on the assignments (to be handed out).  You will attempt a philosophical textual analysis where you summarize the main points of the argument, do a compare/contrast analysis and give a critique (i.e. taking a stand on the issue). NOTE to Philosophy majors: If you want to write a research paper instead of the 3 paper requirement, see me by week 3.  Also write 2 reflective one page papers on a social-political event and hand them in within one week of the event.

 

Class Presentation criteria: Note that this class is a Presentation Skills (PS) course.  In your presentation you will discuss an assigned and scheduled topic (see syllabus).  You will hand in a typed outline of your presentation and a source-list, for secondary literature on the topic one week before your presentation.  After your presentation, you will complete and hand in a self-evaluation form to me during the following class.  Your peers will also complete a presentation peer critique form during your presentation.  Both forms can be downloaded from my website. Your presentation should amount to 10 minutes with an additional 5 minutes allocated for question and answers.  You will sign up for your presentation in Week 2.

 

Attendance policy:

More than 3 absences will adversely affect your grade.  It is important that you come to all class sessions and to keep yourself informed in case you will have to miss a class.  Incompletes are strongly discouraged.

Instances of plagiarism will be treated in accordance with SUNY Cortland's policies.

 

Evaluation (at a glance):

3 papers (4-5 pages each):       60 pts

class presentation:                   20 pts

Participation                            10 pts

Political Event papers (2)        10 pts

 

A+  =  97-100;   A  =  94-96;   A-  =  90-93;   B+  =  87-89;  B  = 84-86; B-  =  80-83;

C+  =  77-79;  C  =  74-76;   C-  =  70-73;  D+  =  67-69;  D  =  64-66;   D-  =  60-63;   E  =  0-59

 

Required Books:

Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks

Viktor Frankl, ManÕs Search for Meaning

Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes were Watching God

David Barash, Ideas of Human Nature

Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (optional)

 

SUNY Cortland is committed to upholding and maintaining all aspects of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you are student with a disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the office of Disability Services located in B-40 Van Hoesen Hall or call 753-2066 for an appointment. Any information regarding your disability will remain confidential. Because many accommodations require early planning, requests for accommodations should be made as early as possible. Any requests for accommodations will be reviewed in a timely manner to determine their appropriateness to this setting.

 

 

The Syllabus:

Week 1: Introduction to the Course

T 8/28 Course concepts, presentation skill requirements

handouts on the Presentation Skill requirement will be distributed and explained

 

Week 2: Religious Views on Human Nature

T 9/4: Barash pp. 1-16

Read Study questions (p.15) & be prepared to discuss especially questions 2 and 3.

Sign up for class presentation

 

Week 3: Body/Soul Debate and Rationality

T 9/11: Barash pp.17-20 (Plato); 50-66 (Plato, Aristotle, Smith, Doyle)

 

Week 4: Human Nature from an ethical/social perspective—Humans are Bad? Or Good?

 T 9/18: Barash, 127-141 (especially: Plato, Hobbes, Kafka)

142-158 (Rousseau, Kropotkin)

 

Week 5: Human Nature from a social science perspective—Products of Environment?

T 9/25:  Barash,  chapt 11, pp.163-170 (Durkheim, Boas, Kroeber) and chapt 7, pp. 93-108  (Watson, Skinner)

(handout of first paper questions)

 

Week 6: Is there a gendered nature?

T 10/2: Barash, Chapter 15, pp.215-236 (Wollstonecraft, Mill, Stanton, Woolf, Beauvoir, Gilligan)

First Paper due

 

Week 7: Questions of Reason, Consciousness, and Power

T10/9: Barash, 68-78 (Dostoyevsky); 109-124 (Freud);

188-196 (Nietzsche)

 

Week 8: Marx and the Concept of Alienation

 T10/16:  Barash, 171-181 (Marx)

 

Week 9: Existentialism

T 10/23:  Barash, 201-214

 

Week 10: The Meaning of Freedom

T 10/30: Frankl, Part I: Life in Concentration Camps

(handout of second paper questions)

 

Week 11: The Meaning of Life

T 11/6: Frankl, Part II: Logotherapy & Postscript: Tragic Optimism

Second Paper due

 

Week 12: Existence in Black- The Postcolonial Imagination

T 11/13: Fanon, Intro- Chapter 4

 

Week 13: Contesting Whiteness/White Supremacy in Philosophy and Psychiatry

T 11/20: Fanon, Chapter 5-8

 

Week 14:  Refracting the Odyssey-A Black WomanÕs Journey

T 11/27: Neale Hurston, 1-9

(handout of third paper questions)

 

Week 15: A Visionary Black WomanÕs Path

T 12/4: Neale Hurston, 10-end

Third paper due