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    Human Nature Syllabus 2018

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    曾兆崙
    This document outlines the course syllabus for APSS1A02: Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The course will introduce students to six major systems of thought that have shaped views of human nature in the West: classical Greek theories, Christianity, Enlightenment philosophy, Marxism, psychoanalysis, and existentialism. Students will compare these theories and explore questions about human nature. Assessment will include a midterm quiz, a group presentation on a selected theory of human nature, and an individual essay analyzing a selected philosopher's theory of human nature.

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    Human Nature Syllabus 2018

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    曾兆崙
    113 views2 pages
    This document outlines the course syllabus for APSS1A02: Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The course will introduce students to six major systems of thought that have shaped views of human nature in the West: classical Greek theories, Christianity, Enlightenment philosophy, Marxism, psychoanalysis, and existentialism. Students will compare these theories and explore questions about human nature. Assessment will include a midterm quiz, a group presentation on a selected theory of human nature, and an individual essay analyzing a selected philosopher's theory of human nature.

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    This document outlines the course syllabus for APSS1A02: Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The course will introduce students to six major systems of thought that have shaped views of human nature in the West: classical Greek theories, Christianity, Enlightenment philosophy, Marxism, psychoanalysis, and existentialism. Students will compare these theories and explore questions about human nature. Assessment will include a midterm quiz, a group presentation on a selected theory of human nature, and an individual essay analyzing a selected philosopher's theory of human nature.

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    113 views2 pages

    Human Nature Syllabus 2018

    Uploaded by

    曾兆崙
    This document outlines the course syllabus for APSS1A02: Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The course will introduce students to six major systems of thought that have shaped views of human nature in the West: classical Greek theories, Christianity, Enlightenment philosophy, Marxism, psychoanalysis, and existentialism. Students will compare these theories and explore questions about human nature. Assessment will include a midterm quiz, a group presentation on a selected theory of human nature, and an individual essay analyzing a selected philosopher's theory of human nature.

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    HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

    DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES


    APSS1A02: Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature
    Course Syllabus
    First Term, 2018-19

    1. Course lecturer: Dr. Ching-wa Wong (GH303, ext.5706; [email protected])

    2. Course objectives:
    The subject aims to familiarize students with several prominent ideas of human nature
    underlying the ethical, political, spiritual, and scientific outlooks of western society.
    The topics to be introduced include six major systems of thought that shape our
    contemporary views of the world, namely: (1) the classical Greek theories; (2)
    Christianity; (3) the Enlightenment theories; (4) Marxism; (5) Psychoanalysis; and (6)
    Existentialism; plus a brief comparison of these with (7) Confucianism. They are
    chosen specifically to illuminate the conflicts of ideologies often observed in
    contemporary society, and with a view to helping students to develop their own ideas
    of a good human life.
    Upon completion of the course, students are expected to have their own views
    concerning the following questions: (1) Is there a universal human nature? (2) What,
    if any, is the essence of a human being? (3) What are the problems with our society
    from the point of view of human nature? (4) Can there be solutions to these problems
    by appealing to our human nature? And as the teaching approach is both historical
    and philosophical, it is essential that students develop their answers through careful
    and critical analysis of the theories, and also apply them to practical issues in life.

    3. Course plan:

    Weeks Topics/Activities
    1 I. Introduction
    2-3 II. Classical Greek theories: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
    4 III. The conception of God in Christianity
    5-6 IV. Enlightenment Philosophy: Descartes, Hume, and Kant
    7 V. Marx’s theory of revolution
    8 VI. Psychoanalysis: Freud and Jung
    9 VII. Existentialism: Sartre
    10 VIII. Confucianism: ancient and contemporary versions
    11 Quiz
    12-13 Group Presentations
    14 Deadline for essay submission

    4. Group project, quiz, and assignment:


     Group Project: Form groups of 6-8 persons to work on the topic given below.
    Present your ideas about a theory of human nature in the form of a PowerPoint

    1
    presentation, which should be about 25 minutes long. In the presentation, you
    should give a clear position of your group and give reasons to support it.
     Quiz: A mid-term quiz (consisting of 15-20 multiple-choice questions plus one
    essay-question) will be conducted in week 11.
     Individual essay: Each student is required to submit an individual essay of about
    1,500 words. The deadline of submission is 5 December 2018.

    5. Assessment:
     Quiz 30%
     Group Project 30%
     Individual Essay 40%

    6. Question for the group project


     Present a theory of human nature (e.g., from Christianity, Buddhism,
    Confucianism, Darwinism, Marxism…etc.) which you think can give the best
    guide to our conduct of life. Suggest how the theory can give satisfactory
    solutions to the most urgent problems in our society. Defend your answer with
    examples.

    7. Question for the individual essay


     Outline the theory of human nature proposed by one of the following
    philosophers:
     Plato
     Aristotle
     Descartes
     Kant
     Marx
     Freud
     Sartre
    What do you think are the strong points of the theory, which made it attractive for
    its followers in the past? And is the theory still acceptable for contemporary
    society? What improvement can be made on the theory?

    8. Textbooks
     Lavine, T.Z. (1984). From Socrates to Sartre: the Philosophic Quest. New York:
    Bantam Books.
     Stevenson, Leslie F., Haberman, David L. & Wright, Peter M. (2013). Twelve
    Theories of Human Nature, New York: Oxford University Press.

    --END--

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