Ph 15.

1: Philosophy of the Human Person

Philosophy Department
Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan
1
st
Semester, SY 2012-13

Instructor: Mr. Gabriel Paolo A. Galang
Philosophy Department: 858-3116/72-3116 loc 3016
Email: galangpaolo@gmail.com

Consultation Hours:
Monday/Thursday: 09:00 12:00
Tuesday/Friday: 15:00 17:00
Those who wish to consult outside consultation hours may set an appointment with me.

Class Schedule:

Mondays & Thursdays Tuesdays & Fridays
PHA: 10:20 11:35 PHE: 11:45 13:00
PHB: 13:10 14:25 PHD: 13:10 14:25
PHC: 16:00 17:15 EDD: 17:25 18:40

Course Description:

This course on the Philosophy of the Human Person, as part of the required philosophy courses, will
introduce the students to the act of philosophizing, and how valuable a means it is concerning an
understanding of the reality of man. The course will then proceed to discuss the various facets that make one
human, according to the contributions of various thinkers, especially in the field of phenomenology. These
will serve as the students initiation to the wonder and rigor of the philosophical discipline.

The course will be divided into two parts. The first is a discussion of man as an individual. The second part
will deal with a discussion of man in relation to man, in relation to a greater society, and the role/s that man
plays in such situations. These discussions will then culminate in the discussion of mans finitude, and how, in
such a realization, can man proceed to find meaning in the face of death.

Course Objectives:

1. To initiate the students to the philosophical act;
2. The students should be able to know and articulate the facets of human nature;
3. The students should be able to reflect on these facets in the discovery of their own nature as humans;
4. To awaken in the students the awareness that as a human person, they are inseparable from the
society they belong to;
5. To initiate in the students a sense of desire to respond to the different calls regarding their being and
the society.




Course Materials:

The readings that will be assigned to the class will be made available through the photocopying centers inside
the campus. Exactly when and where they will be available will be announced by the teacher during class or
through the beadle.

Course Requirements:

1. Quizzes will be given regularly, either as prelectio (before the class) or repetitio (after discussion).
These will serve as the means for the teacher to gauge how well the students understand the text
assigned and the discussion that follows. It also goes without saying that this shall be a motivation for
the students to read the assigned readings before each class. No make-up quiz shall be given to a
student who misses a quiz.

2. Two major exams will be given for the semthe midterm exams and the final exams. The topics that
will be covered in each exam are indicated in the Course Outline below.

3. At the beginning of the semester, the students will be divided into 6 groups and will be asked to pick
a topic/reading from a list of what will be taken up in the course. They will then have to make an
interpretation (i.e. report, video presentation, skit, etc.) of their own understanding of the said
topic/text, which they will have to present in the week that the reading/topic is to be discussed. Each
group will be given 20-25 minutes to present.

4. Every student is expected to read the assigned reading/s for the week. Discussions will center on
supplementing on what the students should have read, and not to repeat what the reading/s already
explained. Students will be asked to recite from time to time, which will constitute their grade for
Class Participation.

Grading System

Final Exam 30%
Midterm Exam 25%
Quizzes 25%
Group Report 10%
Class Participation 10%

Formula for percentage: (Raw Score/Highest Possible Score) x 50 +50 = Percentage Score
The course will use Letter Grades according to the following criteria:

Letter
Grade
Numerical
Equivalent

A 94-100 Outstanding mastery of the subject matter; outstanding performance in the required
exercise; ability to form and explicate insight well
A- 90-93 Excellent mastery of the subject matter; ability to critically examine insight
B 84-89 Good understanding and intelligent grasp of the subject matter
B- 80-83 More than satisfactory ability to explain the subject matter
C 76-79 Satisfactory grasp of the subject matter
D 70-75 Shows minimum understanding of the subject matter
F 0-70 Failure; inability to show minimum understanding of subject matter
Class Policies:

1. Attendance will be checked before the beginning of each class. Any student who is not present once
their name is called will be marked absent. Those who will be coming late should inform the teacher
at the end of the class so they will be marked late instead of absent. Note: 3 lates = 1 cut.
The class shall follow the prescribed number of maximum number of cuts in the Student Handbook. A
student who exceeds the maximum allowable number of cuts will be dropped from the class. By
default there are no excused cuts, with the exemption of some special cases. The teacher will be the
one to determine whether a case is special or not.

A note on cuts: Cuts are not a privilege, but a safety mechanism of sorts, in cases of unforeseen
circumstances such as illnesses, accidents, and the like. Everyone is advised and strongly urged to
manage their cuts wisely.

2. Dont forget to bring the assigned reading/s for the day (AND READ THEM BEFOREHAND!). This is in
order to facilitate the discussion better. From time to time students will be asked to read the text and
explain certain passages before the class, so, I cannot stress this enough, bring you texts.

3. Strictly no using of electronic gadgets (cellphones, laptops, mp3 players, portable gaming devices,
calculators, etc.). Students who are caught using any of those will have to step out of the classroom.
All cellphones must be turned off or switched to silent mode, to avoid any possible disturbance they
might cause.

4. Participation is highly encouraged during class discussion, but please maintain proper decorum. Any
student who causes unnecessary disturbance and disruption during class will, after three warnings,
be asked to step out.

5. A student who wishes to sit-in should ask for permission before the class starts. The student is then
expected to follow all the rules as explained in this section of the syllabus. The moment the teacher
deems that the student is causing a disturbance or disruption to the class, they will be sent out,
without the benefit of getting warned three times.

6. A beadle shall be appointed for each class. The beadles responsibilities are as follows:

prepare a seatplan and submit to the teacher as soon as possible
assist the teacher in coordinating with students and disseminating class-related information
(i.e. regarding cancellation of classes, scheduling of make-up classes, etc.)

7. Everyone is expected and required to maintain academic integrity by adhering and getting familiar
with the rules on academic honesty as prescribed in the Student Handbook. Cheating, plagiarism, and
all sorts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and shall be dealt with accordingly.

A note on Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. For the purposes of this class,
plagiarism shall mean getting anothers idea and claiming it as ones own. As a precautionary
measure, please cite your sources whenever you are, well, using another source. The suggested
citation method is Turabian, but you may use an alternative if you wish. But as a general rule of
thumb, dont get anothers work and say that its yours!

8. For all other matters not specified here, the class will adhere to the prescribed rules in the Xavier
University Student Handbook.


Course Outline:


Week Dates/
Notes
Topic/s Reading/s

1




Introduction




2


Jun 12
Independence
Day

Jun 15
City Charter Day




History of Philosophy




3



The Philosophical Act

Wisdom by Andre Comte-Sponville
(from Little Book of Philosophy)

What is Philosophy? by Karl Jaspers

Insight by Fr. Roque Ferriols, S.J.



4


The Philosophical Life

The Apology by Plato

Existentialism and Mans Search for
Meaning by Manuel B. Dy, Jr.


5

The Phenomenological
Method

The Phenomenological Method by
Manuel B. Dy, Jr.




6-7



Subjectivity and
Phenomenology of the Body

My Body by Eduardo Calasanz

Being-in-the-World in General as the
Fundamental Constitution of Dasein
by Martin Heidegger


8


Jul 26-27
Faculty & Staff
Retreat


Historicity

Man and Historical Action by Ramon.
C. Reyes

Historicity by Albert Dondeyne



9



Knowing

Phenomenology of Knowledge by
William Luijpen

Midterm Examinations


10



Freedom

Existentialism is a Humanism by
Jean-Paul Sartre

The Way to Freedom by Robert O.
Johann





11-12



Aug 21
Ninoy Aquino
Day



Society and
Inter-Subjectivity

The Face by Emmanuel Levinas

Elements of the Interhuman by
Martin Buber

Ang Kalipunan at ang Kapwa/The
Socius and the Neighbor by Paul
Ricoeur



13-14

Aug. 27
Natl Heroes
Day
Aug 28
City Fiesta


Work

The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert
Camus

Alienated Labor by Karl Marx




15-16



Death and Faith

Martin Heideggers Phenomonology
of Death/ Kamatayan ayon kay
Martin Heidegger by Manuel B. Dy, Jr.

Man and Absolute by Rudolph H.
Visker, S.J.


17-18

Love

A Phenomenology of Love by Manuel
B. Dy, Jr.

19 Finals Week
*Please note that this schedule is subject to change, depending on the need and pace of the class.