Philosophy 310: Human Nature
Fall 2015
Steven Schlesinger A&L 436 619-594-4678
sschlesi@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: M-W-F 7:15-7:45am, T-Th 8:30-9:15am
Course Objectives: 1) Explain/compare/contrast a variety of significant views of Human Nature and 2)
discuss the ramifications of these for questions about God and Religion, Right and Wrong, Good society
& government.
Learning outcomes: Write essays that show you have mastered course objectives and have developed
your own views on the subjects involved.
Required Texts:
1) The Grand Inquisitor & Notes from Underground, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
2) Autobiography, John Stuart Mill
3) The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx
4) Civilization and its Discontents, by Sigmund Freud
Sequence of Topics/Assignments:
1) Reading: The Grand Inquisitor p. 119-142, Notes from Underground Book One p. 3-36
Week 1 & 2: Jesus' view of Human Nature
Week 2 & 3: Grand Inquisitor's view of Human Nature
Week 4: Notes from Underground
Paper due: Fully explain the view's of Human Nature discussed in this section--which, if any, do you
agree with-and why.
2) Reading: Autobiography
Week 5: Mill's view of Human Nature
Week 6 & 7: Impact on economics, society, government, education.
Paper Due: Explain and evaluate Mill's views.
3) Reading: The Communist Manifesto
Week 8: Economic Determinism
Week 9 : Economic Determinism
Week 10: Socialism and Human Nature
Week 11: Communism and Human Nature
Week 12: "Communism" in "Russia" and Human Nature".
Is Marx right about Human Nature? Explain Fully.
4) Reading: Civilization and its Discontents
Week 13: Freud's view of Human Nature
Week 14: Impact on advertising: Homo economicus vs. The Strategy of Desire ( Ernst Dichter).
Why is Freud Pessimistic about the future? Do you agree? Explain?
Week 15: Return paper 4/review semester
Each of the 4 papers counts equally. Punctuality is not important-content is supreme. Each should be at
least 5 double-speced pages-perhaps much more.
Each paper may be rewritten in consultation with me and turned in at the Final--the new grade will
completely replace the old grade=maximum incentive.
Your Final Exam period is Dec. 15 10:30-12:30. There is no exam, this is the deadline for submissions of
rewrites.
I follow university policy on handicapped, religious holidays, and plagiarism-see me if questions.