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PHL205Arts Unitsintermediate

Philosophical Anthropology

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of philosophical anthropology, exploring its evolution into the philosophy of the person. It examines the history of anthropology, its limitations, and the application of philosophy to its study. The course covers the development of the concept of the person from African, Eastern, and Western philosophical traditions, various theories of the human person, the crises of the person, and a fundamental ontology of the person. The aim is to equip students with a broad understanding of the philosophy of the person.

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40h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Philosophical AnthropologyPhilosophy of PersonHuman NatureAfrican PhilosophyEastern Philosophy

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Basic Concepts of Anthropology

2

History of Philosophical Anthropology

3

Philosophy of the Person

4

Theories of the Person (African, Eastern, Western)

5

Crises of the Human Person

6

Fundamental Ontology of the Human Person

7

Plato's Philosophical Anthropology

8

Sartre's Philosophical Anthropology

9

Marx's Philosophical Anthropology

Total Topics9 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Basic knowledge of philosophy

Introduction to social sciences

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Philosopher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Social Scientist

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Cultural Analyst

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Policy Advisor

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Human Resources Manager

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationSocial ServicesGovernmentNon-Profit OrganizationsConsulting

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2 study hours
  • •Read the definition of anthropology and its etymological roots.
  • •Understand the difference between studying man and his activities versus studying man in general.
  • •Identify the key concepts of anthropology as listed by Erickson.
Week
2

Module 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 2: History of the emergence of Philosophical Anthropology

2 study hours
  • •Study the historical development of anthropology and its various specializations.
  • •Examine the activities of early anthropologists and their observations.
  • •Understand the man-centered and divine-centered conceptions of anthropology.
Week
3

Module 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 3: The Concept of the Philosophy of the Person

2 study hours
  • •Understand the nature of the human person and the difference between bodily and mental activities.
  • •Differentiate between the descriptive and normative concepts of the human person.
  • •Analyze the constituent parts of the human person and their functions.
Week
4

Module 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 4: Theories of the Person: African and Eastern

2 study hours
  • •Examine the African conception of human personality, including its cultural uniqueness and social norms.
  • •Understand the descriptive and normative aspects of personhood in African thought.
  • •Compare the African view of the person with the Eastern view.
Week
5

Module 1: Basic Concepts and Issues of Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 5: Theories of the Person: Western

2 study hours
  • •Study the Western theories of the person, focusing on mental and material states.
  • •Understand the idealist and materialist perspectives on the human person.
  • •Examine the dualistic view of the human person and the mind-body problem.
Week
6

Module 2: Crises of the Human Person

2h

Unit 1: Crises of the Human Person and Causes

2 study hours
  • •Identify the root causes of the crises of personhood.
  • •Understand the background to the crises and the sources that contribute to it.
  • •Examine the concept of identity crises and its implications.
Week
7

Module 2: Crises of the Human Person

2h

Unit 2: Dimensions or Aspects of the Crises of the Person

2 study hours
  • •Identify and describe the conflicting definitions of personhood.
  • •Understand the conflicting accounts of human nature and human reality.
  • •Examine the mind-body problem and the debates around freedom and determinism.
Week
8

Module 2: Crises of the Human Person

2h

Unit 3: Manifestations of the Crises of the Person

2 study hours
  • •Identify the link between European expansionist anthropology and sociocultural prejudices.
  • •Enumerate the forms of determinism associated with socio-cultural prejudices.
  • •Understand how cultural determinism shapes the self-confidence and self-esteem of the human person.
Week
9

Module 2: Crises of the Human Person

2h

Unit 4: A Fundamental Ontology of the Human Person

2 study hours
  • •Differentiate between Anthropology, Philosophical Anthropology, and Fundamental Ontology.
  • •Understand the uniqueness of Fundamental Ontology.
  • •Identify the universal traits of personhood.
Week
10

Module 2: Crises of the Human Person

2h

Unit 5: The Goal of a Fundamental Philosophy of the Person

2 study hours
  • •Analyze the structure of thought and its components.
  • •Understand the benefits of understanding the structure of thought.
  • •Highlight the goals of a fundamental philosophy of the person.
Week
11

Module 3: Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 1: Plato's Philosophical Anthropology

2 study hours
  • •Understand Plato beyond his epistemology and metaphysics.
  • •Understand the idea on education by Plato.
  • •Be able to relate his ideas with human nature.
Week
12

Module 3: Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 2: Jean-Paul Sartre's Philosophical Anthropology

2 study hours
  • •Understand the core contention of Sartre's philosophical anthropology.
  • •Be able to relate how existentialism and phenomenology functioned in his reflections on man.
Week
13

Module 3: Philosophical Anthropology

2h

Unit 3: Karl Marx's Philosophical Anthropology

2 study hours
  • •Understand the social and intellectual influences on Marx.
  • •Understand Marx's concept of human nature.
  • •The economic implication of Marx's concept of human nature.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review the basic concepts of anthropology and philosophical anthropology from Module 1.

2

Create a comparative chart of the African, Eastern, and Western theories of the person (Units 4-5, Module 1).

3

Focus on understanding the different dimensions of the crises of the human person (Module 2).

4

Outline the key points of Plato, Sartre, and Marx's philosophical anthropology (Module 3).

5

Practice answering essay questions on the main topics covered in the course.

6

Review all TMAs and self-assessment exercises to reinforce understanding.

7

Create concept maps linking key concepts from different modules.

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