Introduction to Philosophical Anthropology
What you'll learn
- The key philosophical concepts when thinking about human beings
- Thematic summaries of the key concepts, and their interrelations
- A selection of the main philosophical theories and authors regarding these concepts
- The value of understanding human beings theoretically, now and going forward
Requirements
- Simply an interest in the topic
Description
This course introduces the exciting theoretical field of philosophical anthropology, namely the study of human being through concepts. It is divided into 12 lectures (listed below); after a free introduction each one then focuses on a key concept or cluster thereof. It takes a thematic approach and draws on some of the most important and well-known theories from the history of Western philosophy, and it also includes the tutors own take and formulation on a number of important issues. Short and selective lectures introduce one into each idea where the main points and angles presently clearly and concisely. It is designed to get you thinking about your own humanity, as well as those of others, and it can be used as a good prelude to further study on this fascinating topic. Each lecture comes with a list for further reading and a quiz.
Lecture 1. Introduction
Lecture 2. Reality, Perception and Imagination
Lecture 3. Emotions and Values
Lecture 4. Freedom
Lecture 5. Space, Time and the Body
Lecture 6. Thinking and the Mind
Lecture 7. Intersubjectivity, Language and Society
Lecture 8. Ethics and Politics
Lecture 9. Aesthetics and Art
Lecture 10. Nature, Being and Metaphysics
Lecture 11. God and Religion
Lecture 12. Going Forward: Sex, Race, Environment and Technology
The lecture style is academic, with clarity and concision top priorities. It aims to give an overall picture of the main philosophical concepts when considering human being, and it should be these very that captivate and enchant. I hope you will try the introduction and enjoy the course!
Who this course is for:
- This course is for anyone interested in learning about some of the basics of philosophical anthropology, for prospective undergraduate students who would like to familiarize themselves with the topic before or during further study, or anyone interested in a general and selective introduction to the topic.
Instructor
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 207 Reviews
- 1,427 Students
- 5 Courses
Hello! Originally Irish, I am a postdoctoral researcher and teacher in philosophy. My philosophy education was primarily at the Husserl Archives at KU Leuven in Belgium, where I obtained my PhD in 2016. I have a diverse range of philosophical interests, with expertise in phenomenology and existentialism, but also projects and publications more generally in philosophical anthropology and psychology, philosophy of technology and social philosophy, as well as environmental philosophy and ethics. After 10 years researching and teaching in academia, I now work in the environmental sector.