PHIL/SOC SCI 609 – Philosophies of Human Nature

Philosophies of Human Nature is a comprehensive examination of the concept of nature from antiquity to the modern day. This course systematically explores the thoughts of key philosophers, beginning with the ancient giants Plato and Aristotle and progressing through the works of Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Goethe. It covers the historical development of philosophical views on the cosmos and the laws of nature, contrasting the holistic views of antiquity and the Middle Ages—rooted in a solid conceptualization of being—with modern frameworks of deconstruction, and examining the potential recovery of the concept of human nature. The existence of the soul is a central theme, with discussions centering on determinism and freedom, as well as will and reason as faculties of the soul. The course also addresses contemporary philosophical debates, such as determinism, materialism, transhumanism, and posthumanism.