What does it mean to be human? After a brief survey of traditional Christian answers to this question we will focus on the theological anthropology that has become the de facto theory of human nature since the emergence of the modern western world in the early19th century. Theological anthropology can be the driver of other doctrines in a systematic theology; it also underpins work not necessarily seen as theological, such as ethics, development, and human rights. A rich understanding of this anthropology will be necessary for theological reflection in our current contex
All students:
Isaiah Berlin, The Roots of Romanticism (Princeton 1999). ISBN 978-0691086620
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther trans. Stanley Applebaum (Dover 2004) ISBN 0-486-43363-3. The standard translation is available as volume 11 of Goethe’s collected works, published by Princeton. There is also a free translation online made available by Gutenberg. Either of those is acceptable (though the translation will be different). I like the Dover version because it is inexpensive and contains the German original text side-by-side with the English translation.
Dwight Hopkins, Being Human: Race, Culture, and Religion (Fortress 2005). ISBN 978-0800637576
Friedrich Schlegel, Lucinde and the Fragments trans. Peter Firchow (Wipf and Stock/Minnesota 2005, 1971). ISBN 978-0816657667
Friedrich Schleiermacher, Soliloquies trans. Horace Leland Friess (Wipf and Stock 2002, 1926). ISBN 1-57910-855-5
Novalis, Henry von Ofterdingen trans. Palmer Hilton (Waveland 1964, 1990). ISBN 978- 0881335743
Ph.D. students should also purchase:
Charles Taylor, Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity (Harvard 1989). ISBN 0-674-82426-1
See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.
Incompletes: If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.
Pass/Fail: Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.
Academic Integrity and Community Covenant: All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate. All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.
Accommodations: Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs. Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations. The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146.
Writing Lab: Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments. Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft.
Inclusive Language: It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.
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