Philosophy of Self and Human Nature ((3))

Catalog description

This course explores two perennial but closely connected philosophical questions: "Who am I?" and "What am I?" What is the self? What constitutes human nature? Various historical and contemporary views on these two questions will be explored including those from Eastern traditions of philosophy. T Readings on the self will be examined from thinkers like Plato, Augustine, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Marx, Sartre, Kierkegaard, Freud, Hegel, Josiah Royce, and William James. In discussing human nature, the course will also explore the mind-body question with readings on Dualism, Materialism, Mind/Brain Identity Theory, Behaviorism, Functionalism, Eliminative Materialism and the new Dualism. Course will be offered every fall semester.