Theories of Human Nature


Psych 4220.06A - Theories of Human Nature (Winter term, 1995)
(Fall term taught by Dr. K. Danziger)

Required readings

Simon, B. (1978). Mind and madness in ancient Greece. Ithaca, NY: Cornell.
Morris, C. (1987). The discovery of the individual: 1050-1200. Toronto: U. Toronto.
Haugeland, J. (1985). Artificial intelligence: The very idea. Cambridge, MA: MIT.

Evaluation

Class participation 10%
Term paper (2500-3000 words) 20%
End-of-term test 20%


PSYCH 4220A.06-THEORIES OF HUMAN NATURE (Fall term, 1995)
(Winter term taught by Dr. F. Weizmann)

Required readings

Week 1. Introduction, Pre-Socratic account of psyche, etc.
Week 2. Plato. Republic, Parts II-IV (but skim III)
Week 3. Plato. Republic, Parts V-VI
Week 4. Plato. Timaeus, Main Sections I-III (but skim II, 15-30)
Week 5. Aristotle. De anima, Book II
Week 6. Aristotle. De anima, Book III
Week 7. Stoics & Epicurians. J. Annas, Hellenistic philosophy of mind, ch. 1, pp. 20-33, ch. 2, ch. 6
Week 8. Ancient Medical views. Hippocrates. "On the sacred disease," "Nature of man"; Siegel. "Galen on psychology..., ch. 2, parts A-C.
Week 9. Early Medieval. E. Gilson. Reason and revelation in the Middle Ages, ch. 1; St. Augustine. On free choice of the will, Book I.
Week 10. Late Medieval. E. Gilson. Reason and revelation in the Middle Ages, ch. 2-3.
Week 11. St Thomas Aquinas. A. Kenny. Aquinas on mind, ch. 3-7.
Week 12. TERM TEST (Several short, and one long, essays)

Evaluation

20% Term Test, Last class
20% Term Paper (discuss topic with instructor), due last class (3000 wds.)
10% Class Participation (attendance is expected; participation grade is for discussion)


Course not being offerred in 1996-97