Who are we? Philosophical views on self and others (2025/2026: periode 3)

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Cursusdoel

Learning goals:
  1. After completing this course, students have developed analytic skills in close reading of primary texts from different philosophical traditions: they are able to single out fundamental assumptions, definitions of words, different types of arguments offered to reach a certain conclusion or to reject a conclusion given by other philosophers.
  2. After completing this course, students are familiar with different ways of interpreting and answering the philosophical question ‘what is a human being?’ by philosophers from Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Western philosophical traditions and with the contemporary discussion on these themes
  3. After completing this course, students they can articulate, orally and in writing, the differences in approaches and focuses, displayed by different philosophers to answer this question.
  4. After completing this course, students are able to formulate research questions in writing, to be answered by displaying the philosophical methodology involving analysis and comparison of primary texts, sometimes guided by critical reading of secondary literature.
  5. After completing this course, students are aware of how the philosophical methodology —involving recognition of arguments built on fundamental assumptions and definitions of words— differs from the methodology of other disciplines that attempt to answer the same question, e.g. empirical disciplines that make use of observations, questionnaires, interviews, which are analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods; and sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics.
  6. After completing this course, students might use the skills learned by analyzing philosophical text in other areas of their studies and their lives. The philosophical training —recognizing definitions, drawing distinctions between what might look the same (e.g. two definitions of the word ‘freedom’), recognizing hidden assumptions, coupled with the acquaintance with many different world-views— might make them become more aware thinkers and citizens, capable of transferring clarity and capacity to look at an issue from different frameworks to whatever endeavor they will embark on.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
  1. Discussion boards etc Test weight 25% Which aim? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  2. ​Paper 1 Test weight 25% Which aim? 1, 2, 3, 4,
  3. Assignment 2 weight 25% Which aim? 1, 2, 3, 6,
  4. Final assignment Test weight 25% Which aim? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Vakinhoudelijk

The course deals with multiple ontological models of the human person, developed in different traditions (Western, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese) and at different times. What is the core of ‘who we are’? Is there anything that we are essentially and/or continuously? Is this something that we are as individuals or collectively? Are we bodies? Are we minds/souls? Are we consciousness? Or the stories we tell about ourselves? Or are we what we do? Are we in an environment or part of it? Are we first individuals and then part of society, or cannot be the one without the other? What, if anything, is distinctive of human beings? What, if anything, distinguishes them from other living beings: from animals (i.e. living and dying beings) on the one hand, and/or from any kind of divine (unborn and undying) beings, on the other hand? What could be meant by the traditional view that the human is the rational animal? In what sense, apart from a political sense, can humans be said to be free, or to be capable of becoming free? How could freedom of the person in this sense relate to the question of a free will, as opposed to (providential or natural) necessity and determinism?

This course offers a survey of philosophical reflection on what it is to be human, based on primary philosophical texts from different philosophical traditions brought in dialogue with each other. It is philosophical anthropology, or theoretical philosophy, focusing on the human condition The course is part of both the philosophy track and the religious studies track.
Even beyond the philosophy track and the religious studies track, this human-centered course should appeal to Social Science majors as a complement to courses such as UCSSCPOL11, LAW11, LAW12, and ANT11.

Format
The class meets twice a week for two hours. There are readings that must be done before each class. Study questions on the online forum are supplied to be used in preparing for each class. Students will prepare and carry out oral dialogues, in which different teams, each representing a philosopher, will engage in conversation. They will write one paper of 2000-2500 words and one of of 700 words. The course concludes with a written assignment.

Werkvormen

UCU HUM 2 course

Toetsing

Discussion boards etc

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Paper 1

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Assignment 2

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Final assignment

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er moet voldaan zijn aan minimaal één van de cursussen:

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • READER
    assigned readings

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. C. Robbiano c.robbiano@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. C. Robbiano c.robbiano@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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