Welcome to Philosophy of the Human Person 2
SUBJECT OVERVIEW
TEACHER: Dr Ailish McKeown (ailishmckeown@yahoo.com.au)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This second subject on the philosophy of the human person examines some aspects of the human person and human behaviour, starting from the notion of personhood and the characteristics of human persons. Central to this is the notion of the corporeo-spiritual nature of human beings, and their possession of a spiritual soul, by which a person is oriented towards God and open to other persons. We will look at some questions around freedom and personal identity (including sexual identity), and human relationships that come from our capacity, as free beings, for love, self-transcendence, and self-giving. We will look at some specifically human activities including culture, work, leisure.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- Explain the concept of personhood and its relevance for bioethics and human dignity
- Explain the concepts of sex and gender and their relationship
- Understand the social nature of human beings and their interdependence
- Distinguish between cultural relativism and cultural sensitivity
- Appreciate the subjective and objective values of work
ASSESSMENT
1. A 60% Critical Analysis and Evaluation of A. Giublini and F. Minerva, “After-Birth Abortion: Why Should The Baby Live?”, Journal of Medical Ethics 39 (2013): 261-263. VIEW (Approx.1,500 words)
Read the article and answer the following questions (total length @1,000 words)
1. What claim do the authors make in the article? (5 marks)
2. Outline the chain of reasoning used to justify the claim (20) marks)
3. Identify three strengths or weaknesses in the argument, providing reasons and, where appropriate, examples, to support your view. Your response must include an analysis of the authors’ understanding of personhood, drawing on William May’s article What is a Person and Who Counts As a Human Person? A Crucial Question For Bioethics, (2014) VIEW, and Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions, 20.6.2008, nn. 4-10. VIEW. (60 marks)
4. Do you find the argument convincing? Why or why not? (5 marks)
Please reference your work. You may use the referencing style you use at university. (10 marks)
Due: 12 October 2022
and
2. A 40% in-class presentation on a topic to be agreed
Program & Readings
The Program is available here. VIEW
The Course Notes are available here. VIEW
Readings and resources for each topic are available below.
Introductory Reading: Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, nn. 12-22. VIEW
Further Reading
B. Sullivan, An Introduction to Philosophy, TAN, 1957.
J. A Lombo and F. Russo, Philosophical Anthropology: An Introduction, MTF, 2012.
Slides
The slides are available here. VIEW
The Human Person
Reading
Course Notes, Chapter 1
William May, What is a Person and Who Counts As a Human Person? A Crucial Question For Bioethics, (2014) VIEW
Further Readings
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions, 20.6.2008, nn. 4-10. VIEW
Videos
CST 101: Life and Dignity of the Human Person VIEW
Psychosomatic Unity of the Human Person
Reading
Course Notes, Chapter 2
Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 282-285 VIEW
Further Readings
E. Sri, Men, Women and The Mystery of Love: Practical Insights From John Paul II’s ‘Love and Responsibility’, Servant, Cincinnati, 2007, pp. 41-51.
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia on Gender, Pope Francis, 19.3.16, n. 56. VIEW
Slides on Gender VIEW
Videos
Dependence & Finitude
Life Is Worth Living, Even With Cancer VIEW
The Power of Vulnerability VIEW
A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success VIEW
Sex & Gender
College Kids Say The Darndest Things: On Identity VIEW
A Tale of Two Brains VIEW
It’s Not About the Nail VIEW
The Social Nature of Human Beings
Reading
Course Notes, Chapter 3
J. Boudreau, Ubuntu: ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’, 2.12.2002 VIEW
Promoting Human Flourishing: Principles and Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching VIEW
Videos
Who We Are: Human Uniqueness and the African Spirit of Ubuntu VIEW
Ubuntu: I Am Who I Am Because of Who We All Are VIEW
CST 101: Call to Family, Community and Participation VIEW
Culture & Human Activity
Work, Technology & Leisure
Reading
Course Notes, Chapter 5
John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens, 14.9.1981, nn. 5-6.
Further Readings
F.J. Lopez Diaz, C. Ruiz Mntoya, Work and Rest, 16.7.2009. VIEW
J. Pieper, Josef Pieper: An Anthology, on Leisure and its Threefold Opposition, Earthly Contemplation, and What is a Feast? pp. 137-157.
Maria Pia Chirinos, Body and Work: An Anthropological Approach to the Human Being VIEW
Humans & History
Reading
J. A Lombo and F. Russo, Philosophical Anthropology: An Introduction, MTF, 2012, pp. 237-249.