ML: The concept of the person in contemporary personalism WF-OB-WAK4
Inadequate conceptions of the human person, often referred to collectively as the “anthropological error,” contribute to a profound crisis of culture in the contemporary world. In response to the crisis of understanding the human person, a philosophical account of personhood emerged within phenomenology and personalism. This approach was developed by such philosophers as Max Scheler, Edith Stein, Dietrich von Hildebrand, Karol Wojtyła, and John Crosby.
This “deep” philosophy of the person offers an alternative to reductionist and one-dimensional approaches to human nature that reduce the human person to merely biological or animal dimensions.
The lecture will focus primarily on two questions: What does it truly mean to exist as a person, and what are the consequences of personhood for everyday life? Answers will be sought primarily in the personalist thought of Dietrich von Hildebrand, Edith Stein, Karol Wojtyła, and John Crosby.
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Learning outcomes
The student recognizes specialized terminology in English-language texts on personalist philosophy and distinguishes the specific features of personalist language from those of other currents of classical philosophy.
The student explains the interrelationships between metaphysics, ethics, and anthropology within personalist philosophy and interprets their significance in relation to contemporary philosophical subdisciplines.
The student translates philosophical texts and statements related to personalist philosophy from Polish into English, maintaining terminological precision and preserving the logical structure of the argumentation.
The student demonstrates English language competence at B2+ level, in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), including the ability to communicate through various media and channels with both specialists and non-specialists; prepare academic texts (e.g., abstracts, summaries, and short articles); deliver oral presentations; participate in and summarize discussions while encouraging active participation; and organize the learning process of others.
The student systematically develops their language competence and independently uses available resources and tools to further improve their language skills.
Assessment criteria
The final assessment criteria will be announced during the first class. For the time being, the following criteria are proposed:
Final grade composition:
1. Written test - 70%
Test format:
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Written in English
- Essay-style questions on Thomistic philosophy
Test content:
- Knowledge of Thomistic metaphysics and its contemporary relevance - 25%
- Understanding of key concepts (being, transcendentals, Five Ways,
God's nature, human soul, happiness) - 25%
- Critical analysis and application to contemporary issues - 20%
Written test = 35 pkt (maximum)
2. Active participation in discussions - 20%
The instructor evaluates students' engagement in English-language
discussions:
- Very active (regular, substantive contributions in English) = 9-10 pkt
- Active (frequent contributions) = 7-8 pkt
- Moderately active (occasional contributions) = 5-6 pkt
- Minimally active (rare contributions) = 3-4 pkt
- No participation = 0-2 pkt
Participation = 10 pkt (maximum)
3. Preparation of assigned readings - 10%
Regular preparation of assigned texts from Aquinas and secondary sources:
- Consistently well-prepared (demonstrates thorough reading) = 5 pkt
- Usually prepared = 3-4 pkt
- Occasionally prepared = 1-2 pkt
- Rarely prepared = 0 pkt
Reading preparation = 5 pkt (maximum)
Point conversion to grades:
Written test (35 pkt) + Participation (10 pkt) + Reading (5 pkt) = Total 50 pkt
46-50 pkt = 5.0 (very good / bardzo dobry)
41-45 pkt = 4.5 (good plus / dobry plus)
36-40 pkt = 4.0 (good / dobry)
31-35 pkt = 3.5 (satisfactory plus / dostateczny plus)
26-30 pkt = 3.0 (satisfactory / dostateczny)
0-25 pkt = 2.0 (fail / niedostateczny)
Test procedure:
1. Student receives 3-4 essay questions
2. Student answers in English (90 minutes)
3. Expected length: 4-6 pages
4. No materials allowed (closed-book test)
Course completion requirements:
1. Attendance at minimum 75% of classes (2 absences allowed)
2. Reading assigned texts from Aquinas and secondary sources
3. Active participation in English-language discussions
4. Passing the written test in English
5. Obtaining minimum 26 points (grade 3.0)
Bibliography
Scheler Max, "The Nature of Sympathy", London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1954.
Stein Edith, "Finite and Eternal Being: An Attempt at an Ascent to the Meaning of Being", Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 2002.
Stein Edith, "On the Problem of Empathy", Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1989.
von Hildebrand Dietrich, "The Nature of Love", South Bend, IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2009.
Wojtyła Karol, "The Acting Person", Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1979.
Wojtyła Karol, "Love and Responsibility", San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993.
Crosby John F., "The Selfhood of the Human Person", Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1996.
Crosby, John F., "The Personalist Philosophy of John Henry Newman", Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2014.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: