Hackett Publishing

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This anthology provides a set of distinctive, influential views that explore the mysteries of human nature from a variety of perspectives. It can be read on its own, or in conjunction with Joel Kupperman’s text, Theories of Human Nature.

Joel J. Kupperman is Professor of Philosophy, University of Connecticut. Among his many publications are Theories of Human Nature, Six Myths about the Good Life: Thinking about What Has Value, and Classic Asian Philosophy: A Guide to the Essential Texts.

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Contents

Introduction

Part I. Some Ancient Views of Human Nature
    1. Indian Philosophy: The Upanishads and Buddha
            Katha Upanishad
            The Buddhist Dhamapada
    2. Confucius
            Analects
    3. Plato and Aristotle, and Freudian Echoes of Plato
            Republic
            Nicomachean Ethics
            The Ego and the Id
    4. Mengzi and Xunzi: The Capacity for True Benevolence
            Mengzi
            Xunzi
    5. Human Imperfection in the Judeo-Christian Tradition:
         From Adam to St. Augustine
            The King James Bible
            Confessions

Part II. Some Modern Views of Human Nature
    6. Hobbes
            Leviathan
    7. Butler and Hume: Inherent Tendencies toward Altruism
            Sermon I
            A Treatise of Human Nature
            Book III: Of Morals
    8. Kant: The Need for Reason to Dominate
            Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals
    9. Marx and Alienation: Our Flawed Participation in Life
            Alienated Labor
            The Communist Manifesto
    10. Sartre and Kierkegaard: Radical Incompleteness as the Human Lot
            Being and Nothingness
            The Sickness unto Death

 

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To view other titles in the Hackett Readings in Philosophy series, please click HERE.