philosophy of the human person - catholic studies academy

Philosophy of the

Human Person

catholicstudiesacademy.com | [email protected]

Dr. Benjamin Smith

Philosophy of the Human Person



Syllabus & Objectives

define and understand the most important ideas in the study of the human

person including soul, passion, intellect, will, et cetera

demonstrate the immortality of the human soul, the body-soul unity of the

human person, the dignity of the human body, and the centrality of love in

the human psyche

employ the ideas of classical philosophical psychology in order to achieve a

high degree of self-understanding

critically engage the modern confusions and distortions related to the

dignity and nature of the human person.

In this course, students will be introduced to the philosophical study of the

human person, with a special emphasis on achieving self-understanding

through classical philosophical psychology. This class will explore the unity of

soul and matter, the immortality of the soul, the meaning of human freedom,

and role of the passions in human psychology. Students in this course will be

equipped to:



Recommended Readings

Texts for the Course:

1. Torchia, Joseph. Exploring Personhood: An Introduction to the Philosophy

of Human Nature. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2008. (EP)

2. Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Prima Pars. Translated by the

English Dominican Fathers. Accessed: http://newadvent.org/summa/1.htm

(August 20, 2018)

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Platonic Dualism I

Platonic Dualism II

Thomist Anthropology I: Unity of the Human Person

Thomist Anthropology II: Powers of the Soul

Thomist Anthropology III: Sense, Passions, and Temperament

Thomist Anthropology IV: Intellect

Thomist Anthropology V: Freedom

Thomist Anthropology VI: Immortality

Materialism

Postmodernism

Modern Bifurcation and Final Comments

The following lectures will be provided in this course:


Reading: “Introduction” (EP, p. 1 ff) What is the philosophy of the human person? Why is it important? What is the foundation for understanding the human person?




Notes:

Platonic Dualism I

Reading: “Plato: the Primacy of the Soul (EP, c. 2) What is dualism? What is knowledge? How do we know that contingent, changeable reality is not sufficient?


Platonic Dualism I


Notes:

Platonic Dualism I

Reading: “Plato: the Primacy of the Soul (EP, c. 2) What does Platonic dualism imply about the human person? Whether the soul is “eternal”? Why, according to Plato, is the love of wisdom really a preparation for death?


Platonic Dualism I


Notes:

Platonic Dualism II

Reading: “Plato: the Primacy of the Soul (EP, c. 2) What does Platonic dualism imply about the human person? Whether the soul is “eternal”? Why, according to Plato, is the love of wisdom really a preparation for death?


Platonic Dualism II


Notes:


Reading: “Aristotle the Human Composite” (EP, c.3) Why should we reject Platonic realism? What is the formal cause of the human person, human being? Whether the human person is a unity of matter and form, matter and soul?




Notes:


Reading: “Human Being, Being Human” (EP, 131-137) Additional Reading: The Powers of the Soul in General (ST Part One, Question 77: http://newadvent.org/summa/1077.htm ) Whether human beings are defined by intrinsic capacities and inclinations? Why is the doctrine of the powers so important? Whether the powers of the soul are modified by temperament andhabit?




Notes:


Reading: “The Powers of the Soul” (EP, 137-140) Additional Reading: The Appetitive Powers in General (ST Part One, Question 80: http://newadvent.org/summa/1080.htm ); Sensuality (ST Part One, Question 81: http://newadvent.org/summa/1081.htm) Whether all human knowing and desire is based in sense experience? Whether human beings are naturally inclined to perceive unity, time, danger, etc.? Whether our emotional lives are responsive to sensation?




Notes:


Reading: “Aristotle the Human Composite” (EP, reread pp 84-89) Additional Reading: Intellect (ST, Part One, Question 79: http://newadvent.org/summa/1079.htm) Whether the intellectual dimension of human being transcends sense life? What is the connection of abstraction and human intellectual life? Why is the intellectual dimension of human being so important?



Notes:



Reading: “The Person as Free Agent” (EP, pp 144-147) Additional Reading: Free-Will (ST, Part One, Question 83: http://newadvent.org/summa/1083.htm) Whether the human person is free? What is the foundation of human freedom? Whether it is better to speak of free-choice than free-will?




Notes:


Reading: “Soul, Body, and Separable Intellect” (EP, pp. 88-91) Additional Reading: The Soul in Itself (ST, Part One, Question 75: http://newadvent.org/summa/1075.htm ) Whether the rational soul is separable from the body? Whether the separated soul is in a desirable or deficient state? Why is the immortality of the soul important?




Notes:

Materialism

Reading: “David Hume: A Bundle of Perceptions” (EP, c.7) What is materialism? What are the implications of materialism for the human person? Whether materialism is rational?


Materialism


Notes:

Postmodernism

Reading: “Postmodernism: Humans, Persons, and Non-Persons” (EP, c.8) Broadly speaking, what is postmodernism? Whether postmodernism excludes the reality of human nature? What are the ethical and political implications of postmodern anthropology?


Postmodernism


Notes:


Reading: “Our Interpersonal Journey” (EP, c.9) What is the most common contemporary view of the human person? Whether Thomist anthropology overcomes the bifurcation of the human person? What are the most important elements of Thomist anthropology?




Notes:

Notes


Notes:

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