Philosophy and Anthropology (Group Code: PHA)
Philosophy means ‘the love of wisdom’and anthropology is the study of what it is to be human. Each is riddled with puzzles which inter-relate and we study some of those problems together in relation to our world and lives today.
Meetings are fortnightly Monday 10:00 - 12:00 at St Luke's in Willaston.
Page Content
- Syllabus
- Topics Programme Schedule 2011-12
(opens in a separate window and is printable)
- Participation Guide Lines
- Background - Description and Aims
- Course Material
- Enquiries
Syllabus - for 2010-12 Academic Year
Having spent two years on the theme of “Selves and Species”, we have used some philosophical and some social anthropologists' approaches to the questions What is wisdom? And What is it to be human?
We probed philosophical questions about the human as a 'centre of consciousness', and anthropologists' ideas about human cultures at various times and under different types of environment; relating both to Darwin's ideas about evolution. For the coming year the most popular theme chosen by current members is that of “Journeys and Boundaries”.
Bearing in mind that in the U3A we have moved out of education-for-qualifications and into mature understandings as developing within an open and questioning group, still using insights and arguments from the history of both western philosophy and social/cultural anthropology:
We shall develop the new theme of “journeys and boundaries” by asking members to propose their 'journeys' which form an imaginary way of asking the kinds of questions about our humanity, responsibility and current knowledge assumptions, and growing understandings, as we move out of education-for-qualifications and into the mature understandings of our group. Members of the class may propose relevant “journeys” which they can develop through the methods and experience of their own specialisms and experience, always directing them towards the familiar philosophical and anthropological themes.
Where do 'boundaries' come in? They are bound to crop up when we find meaning-blocks, famous disagreements of interpretation, mental blanks, dogmatic assertions, hidden ambiguities of meaning or the 'trickeries of language'.
The following may give examples: By Christmas we shall hope to have explored two journeys and many ignorance boundaries on the way. By then members of the group may be coming forward with their own suggestions of 'where' to go, and with their own expertise in coping with the stumbling blocks.
JOURNEY A. See map below. How far can we go back into human development? What dating methods have been used? What about coining technical terms? What quarrels between the 'experts'? Developing methodology from archeo-anthropology and archeology/history using fossils, then carbon dating and recent genetic research.
Our basic question remains: what does it mean to be human?
JOURNEY B. See map below again, but look up towards the East Mediterranean and towards the Near East. Ideas of development from hunter-gatherers to horse or camel-mounted nomads. Patriarchal leadership styles. Development of travel for marketing. From gift exchange (balance) to profit motives. The boundary us v. them.
On this journey, by investigating some pre-Socratic philosophers, we shall consider some of the earliest European questions about 'reality', as well as 'humanity'. e.g. What is an 'atom'? What is the 'Cosmos'? Here lie the roots of Western philosophical and scientific language which were developed from Socrates onward.
The above themes of journey and boundary are likely to come up repeatedly for, the chances are, we shall not prove any rights or wrongs. We have to live, especially in maturity, balancing on a few shaky boundaries. I hope this approach will suit your interests and various specialisms, while we go on dancing together on the boundaries.
- Sonia 28/6/2011 -
MAP:-
Printable Copy of Syllabus and Map - Note this is in PDF format In case of difficulty see PDF Document Reading Help notice near the end of this page.
For a detailed additional extra time line, contributed by Pat Harborth, use the following Link : 'Pre Modern History Time Line' downloadable files - link page.
Participation Guidelines
All members should do some research on the programme topics before meetings. This reduces the pressure on topic leaders and provides for better discussion.
Most members seem to prefer a large open discussion after a presentation, rather than splitting into small groups. We shall continue with the large group for now.
Background - Description and Aims
Philosophy and anthropology can work together: anthropology asks "What is it to be human?", while philosophy asks "What is it to know, and how do we know it?"
This group has been working on such questions and, finding that they never reach final, certain answers. They plan to continue looking at arguments from various theorists to examine how they may relate to some of the pressing social or personal issues of our time. Current issues in the media will be discussed, not solely for argument and disagreement, but to consider how specialists from various historical periods would engage with such problems. A key objective is to set out questions logically, in order to reach deeper understanding of our human predicament
e.g.
Are humans getting wiser?
What is 'progress' and how might we measure it?
Does 'civilization' make us superior to other indigenous peoples?
Or are we more similar to them than we admit?
How do people seek power, and by what rights might they exercise it?
How do we ritualize and account for life episodes like birth, growing up, marrying, dying?
Might modem technology and economic method be changing the ways we think?
What is most important about human relationships and how do we justify/encourage that?
What evidence are we given when told "Science has proved that...."?
Can we trust a claim that "There is no evidence that..."?
No previous knowledge of philosophy or anthropology is necessary.
Course Material
Printable Documents and Links to External Sources of Information.
Note that most of these documents are held in PDF file format (Portable Document Format) and you will not be able to read them unless you have Adobe Acrobat reader installed. In case of difficulty see PDF Document Reading Help notice near the end of this page.
Course Material for Autumn Term 2011
- Syllabus Including Time Line Map (PDF document)
- Further Time Line Information from Pat Harborth 'Pre Modern History Time Line' downloadable files - link
- Results of Searching BBC web site for 'Human Evolution'
- For meeting of 10 Oct 2011 'Presocratic Greek Philosophers' (PDF document)
- What is Philosophy & Anthropology? 20th Oct 2011 Discussion Sub-groups’ Reports
- THEME FOR MEETING OF 7th Nov 2011, lead by Renée & Paul :
Journeys & Boundaries
Questioning: What are journeys and boundaries, is a boundary the same as a barrier, why do we journey and why are things perceived as boundaries and can there ever be a journey which crosses no boundaries? Plus: thoughts arising from personal journeys through life and different cultures.
- Carol T. handout for 21st Nov 2011 meeting: PHENOMENOLOGY -
Its use in Social Psychology (PDF presentation document).
Following the above meeting Carol has sent the the article she promised, which can be accesed by clicking on the following link: Ch1 Phenomenology 2011
- For Meeting of 5th December 2011 titled 'SCIENCE AND FAITH - Trajectories and Boundaries' led by Julian Ward:
- For the meeting of 16 Jan 2012 titled 'A Crisis of Identity: living in no-man’s land'
Course Material from past terms:
For Meeting of 20th June 2011 :
In February and March 2011 we discussed philosophical aspects of Time and Space, in the light of modern physics, medical theory, human psychology .. .. .
Sonia Gregor wishes to draw our attention to the Anthropic perspective and has provided a printable notes sheet for us to view:
For the meeting 21st March 2011, Friedrich Neitzsche was under discussion.
See Neitzsche Course Notes for 21st March 2011 and for extra information see 2009 Notes: Friedrich Neitzsche - The Birth of Tragedy.
PDF Document Reading Help
Enquiries
For further information contact Sonia Greger (Telephone: 509153).