Spring 2014/Pasadena
PH563
Balmer
PH563: PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL VIEWS OF HUMAN NATURE AND DESTINY (4 Units). Eric Balmer.
DESCRIPTION: This course will look at various theological and philosophical views of human nature. More specifically, it will focus on considerations of the soul and what follows on given accounts of it vis-à-vis considerations of death. Moreover, the course will look at what it means to maintain personal identity over time and consider how we should think about the ontological status of people between death and resurrection. We will consider other questions: What is death? Is it a bad thing? If so, why? What is it that we’re mourning when one passes away? Finally, we will consider how one’s view of human nature informs funeral practices.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: After taking this course students will be able to (1) articulate and place in historical context differing conceptions of the human person – e.g., the views of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, etc., (2) read carefully, think critically, and write clearly. Philosophy, in many respects, concerns itself with arguments. A good argument must be clear and soundly reasoned. This course will help students to articulate and write their own views in conjunction with positions that we study during the quarter, and (3) increase their confidence in discourse pertaining to the theology of death and dying. Upon completion of this course students will have an increased knowledge of the Western philosophical tradition and its relevance to Christian theology, increased skills in critical thinking and academic writing, greater confidence in the ability to address intellectual problems, and a heightened appreciation for scholars whose views may differ from their own.
COURSE FORMAT: This class will meet weekly for three hours. Class sessions will be lecture-based with time for discussion on topics covered in both class lectures and in the readings.
REQUIRED READING:
Cullman, Oscar. Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection of the Dead? The Witness of the New Testament. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 978-1608994724, Pub. Price $8.00 [60 pp.].
Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. 3rd ed. Trans. Donald A. Cress. Hackett Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN: 978-0872201927, Pub. Price $7.95 [59 pp.].
Goetz, Stewart and Charles Taliaferro. A Brief History of the Soul. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. ISBN: 978-1405196321, Pub. Price $25.95 [240 pp.].
Green, Joel B. Body, Soul, and Human Life: The Nature of Humanity in the Bible. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-1842275399, Pub. Price $24.00 [240 pp.].
_________ In Search of the Soul: Perspectives on the Mind-Body Problem. 2nd ed. Wipf & Stock, 2005. ISBN: 978-1608994731. Pub. Price $23.00 [198 pp.].
Long, Thomas G. Accompany Them With Singing: The Christian Funeral. Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233198, Pub. Price $26.00 [232 pp.].
Perry, John. A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality. Hackett Publishing Company, 1978. ISBN: 978-0915144532, Pub. Price $8.00 [54 pp.].
Plato. Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. 2nd ed. Trans. G.M.A. Grube. Hackett Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN: 978-0872206335, Pub. Price $8.95 [156 pp.].
* Additional materials will be posted on Moodle as well.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Regular attendance and participation in class.
Three five-page papers (each worth 20% of final grade)
FINAL [in class] examination (worth 40% of final grade).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Philosophical Theology (PHIL).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.