Human Conditions I

Inleiding

Register now for the course Human Conditions I

This was previously the course The Quest of Man I.

Content

The first part of the course offers a systematic overview of the main subjects  and concepts of Philosophical Anthropology (such as the place of man in the Cosmos, the relationship between body and mind, consciousness, action, freedom of will, (inter)subjectivity, reflexivity and language), and its relationship to other philosophical disciplines, such as ethics and social philosophy, and the empirical sciences and humanities, which deal with human beings, such as biological anthropology, neuroscience, psychology, sociology, history, and cultural anthropology.
Next, we will distinguish the mechanistic, organismic, and hermeneutic conception of man and, inspired by Kant’s and Dilthey’s transcendental philosophy, we will analyze the third-person, second-person, and first person ontological perspectives connected to these conceptions. Against the background of the ‘Historization of the World View’, both in its naturalistic (Darwin) and hermeneutic (Dilthey) form, we will discuss Plessner’s philosophical anthropology as a still topical attempt to connect the two. Finally, against this background, will reflect on the possible futures of the human life form in the light of the so-called converging technologies (such as information technology, neuroscience, and biotechnology).

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge is required.

Language

English

Period

Bachelor 1, block 1B; 3 October  until 5 November 2022

Course guide & Timetable

Find here the course guide for the most up-to-date timetable and course description. Course material is to be found in Canvas.