Philosophy of the Human Person

COURSE SYLLABUS

I.
A. Course Description:

This course deals with the aspects of the human person as an embodied spirit. It is concerned with the wonders of human existence wherein it focuses on the main question that is, "what makes a person truly human?" Answering this question involves a reflection on the experiences of individual, which are fundamental to human reality such as knowledge, freedom and responsibility, love and death, meaning and purpose of life and the Absolute.

B. Aim of the Course:

1. to provide the students the ability to reflect, ponder, substantiate and understand the basic issues and concepts of their experiences which are fundamental to human reality and,

2. to be able to develop their ability to come up with wise judgment toward becoming more human.

C. Credit Unit: 3 Units

II. Teaching Procedures:

A. Class Discussion and Interaction of the subject matter.
B. Reading assignments for the students.
C. Oral discussion of the readings found in the compiled articles.
D. Film Viewing and Film Discussion
F. Individual Tickler
G. Group Activity

III. Course Requirements:

A. Oral and Written Examinations
B. Reflection Paper
C. Individual and Group Work/Presentations
D. Reading Assignments
E.Scrap Book
F. Learning Contract
G.Journal Entry
H. Individual Tickler

IV.Grading System:

Class Standing:

A. Philosophical/Reflection Papers - 30%
B. Quiz -25%
C. Oral or Graded Recitation - 15%
D. Group Activity -10%
F. Journal Entry -10%
G. Individual Tickler -5%
H. Deportment/Attendance -5%

Class Standing is 2/3 of the Final Grade and Midterm/Final Exam is 1/3 of the Total Grade

V. References:

A. Philosophy of Man, Selected Readings (2nd ed.) by Dr. Manuel Dy Jr.
B. What Makes Man Truly Human by Fr. Michael Moga S.J.
C. http://www.google.com/ and other related internet links



CONTENTS OF THE COURSE SYLLABUS:

I. (Week I)

Course Orientation and House Rules
Expectation Setting
Signing of Learning Contract by Group

II. (Week II)

Introduction to the Subject Matter
Different Historical Approach to the Study and Understanding of the Human Person – Manuel Dy, Jr.
Importance of studying Philosophy of Human Person

III. (Weeks III-V)

The Human Person as Free and Responsible
Is Man Free? – Michael Moga
Human Freedom – Kavanaugh, J.
Determinism – Skinner, B.F.
Existentialism – Sartre, J.P.

IV. (Weeks VI-IX)

The Inter-human and the Social
Elements of the Interhuman – Buber, M.
The Socius and the Neighbor – Ricoeur, P.
The Task of Man – Johann, R.

V. (Week X)

Midterm Examination

VI. (Weeks XI-XIII )

The Human Being as Loving
Phenomenology of Love – Luijpen, W.
A Phenomenology of Love – Dy, M. J.r.
Max Scheler’s Phenomenology of Love – Dy, M. J.r.

VII.(Weeks XIV-XVI)

The Human Being and Death
Martin Heidegger’s Phenomenology of Death – Dy, M. J.r.
Death, The Test of Love and The Condition of Liberty – Troisfontaines, R.

VIII. (Weeks XVII-XVIII)

The Human Being and the Absolute
1. Man and The Absolute – Visker, R.

IX. (Weeks IX)

Final Examinations

(Assignment for my Philosophy 102 G Class:)

Instruction:

Read the article slowly and reflectively. After reading them, answer the guide questions and pass them on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 on or before 9 a.m. You may write your answers on a clean sheet of paper.)

THERE IS A FROZEN SEA WITHIN US. Philosophy is an axe.

Everything you believe is questionable. How deeply have you questioned it?
The uncritical acceptance of beliefs handed down to you by parents, teachers, politicians and religious leaders is dangerous. Many of these beliefs are simply false.
Some of them are lies, designed to control you. Even when what has been handed down is true, it is not your truth. To merely accept anything without questioning it is to be somebody’s else’s puppet, a second-hand person.
Beliefs can be handed down. Knowledge can perhaps be handed down BUT WISDOM can never be handed down. The goal of philosophy is wisdom. Trying to hand down philosophy is unphilosophical.

WISDOM REQUIRES QUESTIONING WHAT IS QUESTIONABLE. Since everything is questionable, wisdom requires questioning everything. That is what philosophy is: the art of questioning everything.

_____________________________________________________________________

(Philosophy has long been associated with wisdom. The first great phiolosophers, Socrates of the west and Confucius of the east, never wrote a book on Philosophy nor pretended to know everything there is to know. They went out of their cloistered halls, interacting with people in the streets in words and deeds, learning even from those who do not know.
What is wrong with associating philosophy with wisdom? Nothing, as long as we do not forget the search that comes before it, as long as we do not identify philosophy or philosophizing with the wise man or being wise.)


Guide Questions:

1. In what way did the article help you in trying to understand the importance and essence of Philosophy?

2. What is your philosophical understanding of the thesis statement from Confucius which says that, "Humans are like raw materials-they need to be carved, chiseled, grounded, and polished to become authentic persons..."(1/15).