Keio University Syllabus and Timetable

PHILOSOPHICAL TOPICS ON THE IDEAL IMAGES OF HUMAN BEINGS; CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN JAPANESE AND THE WESTERN CULTURE

SubtitlePhilosophical Topics on the Images of Ideal Human Beings in Various Cultures.
Lecturer(s)HAYASHI, AKINORI
Credit(s)2
Academic Year/Semester2023 Spring
Day/PeriodWed.3
CampusMita
Class FormatFace-to-face classes (conducted mainly in-person)
Registration Number82492
Faculty/Graduate SchoolINTERNATIONAL CENTER
Year Level2, 3, 4
Course DescriptionA course to aim to examine the images of ideal human beings from a philosophical point of view by means of using various philosophical methods.
K-Number CIN-CO-00143-212-01
Course AdministratorFaculty/Graduate SchoolCININTERNATIONAL CENTER
Department/MajorCO
Main Course NumberLevel0Faculty-wide
Major Classification0Other Course
Minor Classification14International Center Course (Humanities) - Religion and Thought
Subject Type3Elective subject
Supplemental Course InformationClass Classification2Lecture
Class Format1Face-to-face classes (conducted mainly in-person)
Language of Instruction2English
Academic Discipline01Philosophy, art, and related fields

Course Contents/Objectives/Teaching Method/Intended Learning Outcome

Course Description

We have various kinds of the images of ideal human beings. Thinking of those images often leads us to answer the questions such as “How ought we to live?”, “What is the best way of living for us?”, “What ought we to pursue in our lives?” and so on. In this course, I shall examine those questions from a philosophical point of view by means of using various philosophical methods.
There are two notable features in this course. Firstly, I shall attempt to use the images of ideal human beings taken both from western culture and Japanese culture. I do not mean to, however, make a contrast between two cultures in a hackneyed manner, but rather intend to show that some similarities and differences of the images transcend the difference of cultural background. In doing so, I expect the participants to ask yourself of what image of ideal human beings you have; in short, the aim of this course is to “know yourself” which has been a deep motive for pursuing philosophy in various cultures.
Secondly, unlike a conventional philosophical course, I shall use not only classical philosophy texts, but also various kinds of materials for the objects of investigations including Descartes’s and Kant’s philosophy texts, Muneyoshi Yanagi’s writings on the works of Japanese folk art (Mingei), and Kenji Miyazawa’s poem. Although I attempt to use various kinds of materials, the nature of investigations is thoroughly philosophical; this course is not for art criticism, or comparative literature.
Roughly, topics in this course will be divided into the following four parts.
1. Rationality and Intellect as an Ideal Capacity for Human Beings.
2. Anti-intellectualism and its Problems.
3. Beauty and the Image of Ideal Human Beings.
The important part of this course, furthermore, is to learn how to discuss with each other in English both for native and non-native speakers. Yet this course is not a language course; what you expected to learn is to formulate your own opinions in English with an articulated manner in an international opportunity. Thus active participation to the discussion is required to take this course.

Course Plan

This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).

Method of Evaluation

This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).

Textbooks

Texts
Copies of texts will be distributed in the class. You don’t have to buy any text book for this course.

Reference Books

TBA

Lecturer's Comments to Students

This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).

Question/Comments

This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).