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LevelPhilosophical Anthropology: Seminar (B-KUL-W0EC1B)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractAims
At the end of the seminar, the student will be able to:
- Read closely and critically the chosen primary and secondary texts in philosophical anthropology and philosophy of mind under the guidance of the tutor
- Correctly analyze and accurately summarize these texts
- Analyze the structure of the text and identify arguments
- Write paper in the proper academic style with the correct use of English and a system of referencing
- Show the understanding of the text in an oral presentation and a class discussion
- Identify in the text discussed the major philosophical issues in question in that philosophical subdomain
- Write and orally present a response to the given research question, based on readings and discussions in the class
Previous knowledge
Students should have basic reading and writing skills, basic ability to analyse a text, and a competent knowledge of English.
Content
In 2012-2013 the seminar will be taught by Erica Harris.
Course material
Articles and literature
Is also included in other courses
Activities
4.0 ects. Philosophical Anthropology: Seminar (B-KUL-W0EC1a)
Content
The seminar tends towards being not very specialized. At least 4 texts from 4 different authors, suitable for bachelor students and of key importance in philosophical anthropology, will be read and discussed each year; students are responsible for presentations and participation, under the supervision of the seminar tutor.
2012-2013:
Group 1 - Erica Harris
The topic for is personal identity and the body. The question that students will address in this course is: how much of a role does the body play in determining who one is? Students will first approach this question in a discussion of two seminal essays from the philosophy of mind: Derek Parfit's "Personal Identity" (1971), and Bernard Williams' "The self and the future" (1970). These two essays will then be considered in light of a more contemporary and psychoanalytically influenced debate put forth in an essay by two of KU Leuven's professors, Roland Breeur and Arnold Burms, "Persons and Relics" (2008). Students will then use these texts and the seminar discussions as a lens through which to consider the degree to which Freud's Three essays on the theory of sexuality can teach us about what kind of thing the human being is. Specifically, they will discuss Freud's notion of the sexualized body and its
constitutive role for subjectivity. The seminar will round off with a number of contemporary philosophical responses to Freud: Arnold Davidson's "How to do the history of psychoanalysis" (1987) and Andreas de Block's ""Freud as an 'evolutionary psychiatrist' and the foundations of a Freudian philosophy" (2005), and Thomas Geyskens and Philippe Van Houte's "Clinical anthropology in The three essays on the theory of sexuality" in Confusion of Tongues.
Group 2 - Willow Verkerk
In this group, primary texts on personal identity and subjectivity will be examined. Questions will include:
- What does personhood consist of?
- What does it mean to be the same person over time?
- How does my sense of self depend upon others?
- To what extent do regulatory structures shape identity?
Description of learning activities
Activities include some or all of the following: preparing texts at home, giving a presentation, participating in discussion, doing some research in the library or on the internet, making course notes, writing a paper.
Attendance is required for this course. The student who is repeatedly and for unfounded reasons absent can be denied further access to class by the teacher of the course.
Course material
The course material consists of a selection of texts which will be made available to students at the beginning of the year.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Philosophical Anthropology: Seminar (B-KUL-W2EC1b)
Explanation
Examination description
The final grade (scale 0-20) will be determined as follows:
- Written work: 50% of the final grade.
- Presentation and participation: 50% of the final grade.
More information on the written work and presentation will be given at the beginning of the seminar.
Determination of the examination result
If the student did not attend the course as required, did not sufficiently participate in group assignments (if applicable), did not give a presentation (if applicable), and/or did not submit all the course work (in time), s/he will receive the result 'not taken' (NA).
In case the student cannot, for well-founded reasons, attend class as required s/he needs to inform the teacher of the course without undue delay. The teacher can in this case decide to give the student a make-up assignment (for example, a reading report on the material covered in the seminar session which the student missed). In the case the student cannot, for serious reasons and regularly or for a long period of time, attend class as required or in case the student cannot, for serious reasons, give a presentation on a scheduled date, s/he needs to inform the examination ombudsperson without undue delay.
Second examination attempt
The second examination attempt is limited to (re)submitting the course work. Participation and/or presentation cannot be retaken. The student who in the course of the academic year did not attend class as required or who did not give a presentation will again receive the NA result.
