David L. Rouse
TEXT: William O. Stephens, ed. The Person:
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE: The purpose of the course is to critically examine selected theories of human nature which influence both our philosophical and scientific understanding of ourselves.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: Students are expected to attend class, do the assigned readings before each class session, and to turn in work by the assigned date. There will be one paper (7-10 pages) assigned during the course counting for 40% of the grade, a mid-term counting for 20%, and a final examination counting for 30%. The final 10% will be based on class attendance and participation. The paper topic should be selected by the student and approved by the instructor.
Grades are assigned as follows.
92-100 A
90-91.9 A-
88-89.9 B+
82-87.9 B
80-81.9 B-
78-79.9 C+
72-78.9 C
70-71.9 C-
68-69.9 D+
62-68.9 D
60-61.9 D-
0-59.9 F
Students are expected to know and abide by the rules of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, including the Honor Code.
Class Meeting |
Assignment |
23 Aug |
Introduction to the course |
28 |
Plato, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Republic |
30 |
Aristotle, On the Soul |
04 Sept |
Epictetus, The Discourses, The Handbook |
06 |
Rene Descartes, Treatise on Man |
11 |
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan |
13 |
John Locke, An Essay on Human Understanding |
18 |
J. O. de la Mettrie, Man a Machine |
20 |
G. W. Leibniz, New Essay on the Human Understanding |
25 |
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature |
27 |
Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, The Doctrine of Virtue |
02 Oct |
F. W. Nietzsche, The Gay Science, Beyond Good and Evil, The Will to Power |
04 |
Jean-Paul Sartre, Existentialism |
09 |
P. F. Strawson, Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics |
11 |
Mary Anne Warren, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion” |
23 |
Review |
25 |
Mid-term |
30 |
Daniel C. Dennett, “Conditions of Personhood” |
01 Nov |
Charles Taylor, “The Concept of a Person” |
06 |
Roland Puccetti, “The Life of a Person” |
08 |
Derek Parfit, Reasons and Persons |
13 |
Mary Midgley, “Persons and Non-Persons” |
15 |
A. O. Rorty, “Persons and Personae” |
20 |
R. G. A. Dolby, “The Possibility of Computers Becoming Persons” |
27 |
Oswald Hanfling, “Machines as Persons” |
29 |
William O. Stephens, “Masks, Androids, and Primates: The Evolution of the Concept ‘Person’” Term Papers Due |
04 Dec |
Review |
06 Dec |
Review |