College of Arts & Letters
Philosophy Department
PHIL 310: PHILOSOPHY & HUMAN NATURE
Section 1 (22344) – MW 2:00-3:15pm – M206
COURSE SYLLABUS – SPRING 2011
=============================================================
H. Reyes
Office: AL 427
Voice Mail: 619-594-8839
E-mail: hreyes@mail.sdsu.edu Office Hours: MWF 10:00 – 10:50am
=============================================================
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Phil 310: Philosophy & Human Nature deals with
different concepts of human nature. Descriptive and normative aspects of major theories
of human nature are discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through careful reading and re-reading of the materials of
the course and with full participation in class discussion/activities (in class and online),
students will develop analytical and critical skills in their thinking and writing as
evidenced by their being able
 to explain, enunciate and summarize the basic claims and concepts of the
philosophers regarding human nature
 to interconnect the philosophers’ basic claims and concepts regarding human
nature
 to role-play in a debate format by taking the position of a philosopher
regarding human nature and defending it against possible objections
 to construct a dialogue or conversation between two philosophers,
highlighting their similarities and differences, as well as showing a very good
understanding of the philosophers’ basic claims regarding human nature
In pursuit of these outcomes, the course will be based on the careful reading and
extensive examination of major theories of human nature. Insofar as philosophy is an ongoing dialogue between earlier and later thinkers, we will approach each philosopher in
the context of his/her predecessor. In view of this, class discussion of materials will
generally follow a historical order.
To help students develop keenness in the assessment of the merits and weaknesses of the
philosophical views discussed in the course, the students will be required to do a
substantial amount of expository and critical writing in response to the materials
presented in the course.
FYI #1: Any students with special needs due to documented medical condition
should avail themselves of the resources of the Disabled Student Services Office,
Calpulli Center, Rm 301 (619-594-6473). Students who have concerns that might
prevent them from otherwise doing well in this course should discuss this with the
instructor so that proper arrangement may be made to accommodate their
conditions.
FYI #2: Students must inform instructor within the first two weeks of class of any
planned absences on account of religious observances.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Cahn, Steve (ed.). Classics of Western Philosophy (7th ed.). 2006. Hackett
Stevenson, L. & Haberman, D. Ten Theories of Human Nature (5th ed.). 2009. Oxford
NOTE: Additional class handouts will be posted on Blackboard
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance/Class Participation (in-class and on-line):
 Because of the nature of the course and the structure by which it is conducted,
simply being present is not enough! The class structure requires students to
attend class each entire class session; to be prepared for and participate
actively in class discussion. You will have (or at least have tried to) read and
thought about the assigned reading before each class. Be sure to bring the
assigned text or handout with you to class. NOTE: Out of respect for one
another, during class time cell phones must be turned off or put on silent
mode, no TEXTING, no using of I-pods and/or other gadgets during class
time.

On-line class participation will be through the Blackboard Discussion
Board. For every major reading assigned, you will be asked to answer
some questions based on the reading, or make comments about some
passages taken from the reading, or participate in a group discussion or
activity.
2. Final Paper (Comparative Analysis Paper): In lieu of the final exam you will
write a 10-12-paged paper comparing and contrasting one western conception of
human nature with one eastern conception of human nature. Specific details
about this paper will be provided in the form of a handout. Please refer to the
course outline section of this handout for the due date of this paper.
3. Writing Assignment on Apology: You will read Plato’s Apology and answer a
series of questions about the dialogue. Specific details about this writing
assignment will be provided in the form of a handout.
4. 3 Major Exams: These are announced/scheduled whole class period essay exams.
One week before the scheduled quiz (to give focus and direction in your
2
preparation) you will be provided with guide questions from which the quiz
questions will be chosen at random. Please refer to the course outline section of
this handout for the dates of the quizzes.
GRADING POLICY: Your final grade will be based on the following distribution of
points:
 50% --------- 3 Major Exams
 15% --------- WA on Apology
 15% --------- Online Discussion Board
 20% --------- Comparative Analysis Paper
Your letter grade will be determined based on the following scale:
96-100 ---------- A
76-79 ---------- C+
90-95 ----------- A73-75 ---------- C
86-89 ----------- B+
70-72 ---------- C83-85 ----------- B
66-69 ---------- D+
80-82 ----------- B60-65 ---------- D
Anything below 60 is an “F”
COURSE OUTLINE:
1/19 (W): Introduction, get acquainted, distribute syllabus, discuss course requirements,
etc.
Assignment: Read Plato’s Apology (Cahn text, pp. 29-41)
- Work on Writing Assignment on Apology (NOTE: Guideline on this writing
assignment posted on Blackboard) and Online Discussion Board (ODB) #1
1/24 (M), 1/26 (W): SOCRATES - Discuss the Apology
- DISCUSSION BOARD #1 DUE: Wednesday, 1/26
Assignment: Read Chapter 4 (TTHNtext) and read the Meno, sections of the
Phaedo and sections of the Republic (Cahn text)
- Complete work on the Apology Writing Assignment and work on ODB #2
1/31 (M); 2/2 (W): PLATO - Discuss Meno; sections of the Phaedo; sections of the
Republic
- WRITING ASSIGNMENT (APOLOGY) DUE: Monday, 1/31
- DISCUSSION BOARD #2 DUE: Wednesday, 2/2
Assignment: Continue to read the sections on Plato in both the TTHN and Cahn
texts and work on ODB #3
2/7 (M); 2/9 (W): PLATO - Continue to discuss Plato
- DISCUSSION BOARD #3 DUE: Wednesday, 2/9
Assignment: Read chapter 1 (TTHN) and the Confucianism handout posted on
Blackboard
- Review for Major Exam #1 (Guide questions for major exam #1 posted on
Blackboard)
3
2/14 (M); 2/16 (W), 2/21 (M): CONFUCIANISM - Discuss Confucius, Mencius, Hsun
Tzu
- MAJOR EXAM #1: Monday, 2/21
Assignment: Read Taoism handout posted on Blackboard
2/23 (W); 2/28 (M); 3/2 (W): TAOISM - Discuss Lao Tzu
- Discuss Chuang Tzu
Assignment: Read chapter 5 (TTHN)
- Read sections of Nicomachean Ethics, On the Soul, Physics of Aristotle
- Work on OBD #4
3/ 7 (M); 3/9 (W); 3/14 (M): ARISTOTLE - Discuss Aristotle’s Theory of
Hylomorphism
- Discuss Aristotle’s Theory of Ideogenesis
- Discuss sections of Nicomachean Ethics
- DISCUSSION BOARD #4 DUE: Monday, 3/14
Assignment: Read chapter 2 (TTHN) and the Hinduism handout posted on
Blacbboard
3/16 (W); 3/21 (M): HINDUISM – Discuss Atman and Brahman
- Discuss Shankara
- Discuss Ramanuja
Assignment: Review for Major Exam #2 (Guide questions on Major Exam #3
posted on Blackboard)
3/23 (W): MAJOR EXAM #2
Assignment: Read chapter 3 (TTHN)
SPRING RECESS (3/28-4/1) – NO CLASS
4/4 (M); 4/6 (W); 4/11 (M): BUDDHISM - Discuss Gautama Siddharta
- Discuss the 4 Noble Truths and the Noble 8-fold Path
Assignment: Read Hobbes (Cahn text, pp. 517-548) and work on ODB #5
4/13 (W); 4/18 (M): HOBBES - Discuss the Leviathan
- DISCUSSIN BOARD #5 DUE: Monday, 4/18
Assignment: Read Kant (Cahn, pp. 981-1020); read chapter 7 (TTHN)
- Begin work on Comparative Analysis Paper (Guideline posted on Blackboard)
4/20 (W); 4/25 (M): KANT - Discuss Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
Assignment: Complete work on the Comparative Analysis Paper
- Read Sartre (Cahn pp. 1192-1204) and chapter 9 (TTHN)
4/27 (W); 5/2 (M): SARTRE - Discuss Sartre’s Existentialism
Assignment: Complete Comparative analysis paper
4
-
Review for Major Exam #3 (Guide questions posted on Blackboard)
5/4 (W): MAJOR EXAM #3
5/9(M): COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PAPER DUE
NOTE: The final paper (i.e., the comparative analysis paper) is the final exam and is
due on the last class day: Monday, 5/9
End of Semester
Rejoice!!!
5