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The Quarrel about Human Nature
Der Streit um die Natur des Menschen
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:40:40
Abstract
This lecture-course gives an overview over the quarrel about how "human nature" is to be determined -- a quarrel that started long before the establishment of empirical research into humans by human-biology, psychology, sociology and cultural anthropology dominated many debates in European philosophy.
Objective
Acquiring critical knowledge of the history of the concept of "human nature", especially of its ideological and political misuse.
Content
Die Vorlesung gibt einen Überblick über die Geschichte des Streites um die Bestimmung der so genannten "Natur des Menschen", de lange vor der Etablierung der Erfahrungswissenschaften, die den Menschen erforschen wie Humanbiologie, Psychologie, Soziologie, Ethnologie usw. die abendländische Philosophie bestimmt hat. Seit den 90er Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts wird die Verwendung dieses Begriffs zunehmend kritisiert. Feststellungen, was der rein spekulativ bestimmten Natur des Menschen vermeintlich entspricht oder widerspricht, haben immer wieder zur Legitimation von normativen Setzungen gedient. Die Vorlesung verfolgt die Geschichte dieses Konzepts von der antiken Metaphysik über die Philosophie der Aufklärung im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert bis hin zu den Streitigkeiten zwischen der Philosophie, der Biologie, der Psychologie und Soziologie, die seit dem 19. Jahrhundert im Gange sind.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Der Streit um die Natur des Menschen |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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GESS Science in Perspective (Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "GESS Science in Perspective" courses. Further below you will find courses under the category "Type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. During the Bachelor’s degree Students should acquire at least 6 ECTS and during the Master’s degree 2 ECTS. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses: Recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the same course again. All these courses are listed under the category “Typ A”, this means, every student can enroll in these courses.)
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