Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL3042: Philosophical Anthropology

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:’

The module will begin with an overview of the basic ideas of philosophical anthropology beginning with Kant and Herder and ranging through 20th and 21st century work. 

Two Elephants in the Room – Human Cooperativity and Human Juvenilisation.

1. Arnold Gehlen and Clive Bromhall

2. Michael Tomasello

Evolutionary and historical evidence

3. Sarah Hrdy
4. Merlin Donald
5. Ian McGilchrist

Contemporary Evidence

6. Heidegger’s phenomenology
7. Hubert Dreyfus on skill

A Synthetic Model – the Hybrid Hominin

8. Lenny Moss

Philosophical Debate

9. The Dreyfus-McDowell debate I
10. The Dreyfus-McDowell debate II

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
241260

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity22Weekly two-hour lecture/seminars will consist of a lecture introducing key theories and issues and seminar discussion
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity2One-to-one meetings with Tutor to discuss essay topics and progress
Guided Independent Study42Reading and Preparation for Seminars
Guided Independent Study14Preparation of Seminar Presentation
Guided Independent Study70Researching and Writing Essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).