Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - PHIL 854 G100

Selected Topics in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy (5)

Human Nature

Class Number: 3345

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Wed, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Selected Topics in 17th/18th Century Philosophy: Human Nature

Important note regarding enrollment: All seats are reserved for philosophy graduate students. Philosophy honours students can access enrollment into this course by contacting the Philosophy Advisor (philcomm@sfu.ca). Enrollments from graduate students in other departments will be considered only upon submission of the Graduate Course Add Form, and with instructor's permission. All such enrollments will be done in or after the first week of classes.

Debates about human nature form a unifying, central narrative within the history of philosophy. According to this narrative, canonical figures develop competing theories, often in response to perceived flaws in the accounts of their interlocutors and predecessors. However, in recent decades, much scholarship has highlighted how such canonical narratives traditionally exclude the contributions of women, non-Western philosophers, and other marginalized thinkers from the past. By neglecting such perspectives, these narratives risk limiting the scope of philosophical inquiry into human nature, prematurely shaping key debates about rationality, morality, agency, and identity.

This course aims to challenge this traditional narrative by bringing into dialogue critical perspectives on human nature, that is, the perspectives of historically marginalized thinkers from the early modern period. Significantly, the content of this seminar will align with a workshop to be held at SFU Harbour Centre at the nnd of July. This event will bring together scholars whose work focuses on diverse voices in the history of philosophy focusing on their contributions to debates about human nature.

Participants in this workshop have been invited to share primary and secondary sources related to their research which will inform the reading list for this course. Students are encouraged to attend the workshop and participate as informed interlocutors as part of the course.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Successful completion of this course will satisfy the “History Stream” distribution requirement toward the MA degree for philosophy graduate students.

Grading

  • Participation 10%
  • 5 reading responses (@ 5%each) 25%
  • One presentation 20%
  • Final Paper Outline 5%
  • Final Paper 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:


All readings will be available online through the course management software.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.