Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Anthropology
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,
Teaching staff
Introduction
This subjet has been conceived as based on a relevant premise for university education: the main challenges and problems which a graduate will face in the future are not to be solved with techniques that can be taught but with a deep understanding of human condition. Therefore, it is all about reflecting on that which is human in oneself, informative and communicative activities and society.
In the world of post-truth, parallel universes, the metaverse, and consummerism, it is essential to possess the tools of judgment, the capacity for reflection and analysis, and a holistic perspective. Today, pausing to think, adopting a humanistic view on the world, has become an urgent humanitarian task.
Pre-course requirements
None.
Objectives
To reflect on the human being in its personal, familial, social and communicative dimensions.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 02 CG - The ability to learn and act an autonomously and responsibly
- 03 CG - The ability to work in a group
- 06 CG - The ability to read, analyze and synthesize
- 16 CE - The ability to make judgments and well-argued critical assessments
- 21 CE - The ability to contextualize historical facts and critically analyze the current situation
- 41 CE - The ability and capacity to interact in the environment
Syllabus
I. The reflection on the human being
1. Sensitive life. Physis and pathos
2. Rational animals (I). Logos
3. Rational animals (II). Ethos
4. The person and the question of meaning
5. Interpersonal relationships (I). Friendship
6. Interpersonal relationships (II). The family
II. Living in society
7. Society and politics. Polis
8. Work and leisure. Homo faber. Homo ludens
9. Society, identity and image. Eikon
10. Culture, hyperconnectivity and globalization
11. Technology, world and sustainability
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Theoretical lessons and practical activities - text commentaries, debates and presentations in different formats - will aternate.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
For the first sitting:
40% practical activities
60% final exam
To pass the subject it is necessary to pass separately the activities part and the final exam, both with a pass grade of 5.0.
For the second sitting:
- If the student failed the exam and passed the activities, he/she will have to retake the final exam and pass it. In this case, the final grade will be calculated with 40% practices previous grade + 60% final exam second sitting.
- If the student failed the activities and passed the exam, he/she will have to pass the activities he/she failed. In this case, the activities grade will be recalculated and the final grade will result from 40% new activities grade + 60% exam previous grade
- If the student failed both the activities and the exam, he/she will have to pass the activities he/she failed and retake and pass the final exam. In this case, the activities grade will be recalculated and the final grade will result from 40% new submissions grade + 60% final exam second sitting.
In either of these three possibilities, the pass grade is 5.0.
According to the Degree rules, any forgery or fraud in the submissions or cheating on an exam will be penalised with a fail.
Bibliography and resources
Textbooks:
José Ramón AYLLÓN, En torno al hombre, Rialp, Madrid 2017
Juan Manuel BURGOS, Antropologia: una guía para la existencia, Palabra, Madrid 2017
Leonardo POLO, Quién es el hombre. Un espíritu en el tiempo, Rialp, Madrid 2021
Ricardo YEPES STORK; Javier ARANGUREN ECHEVARRÍA, Fundamentos de Antropología. Un ideal de la excelencia humana, (6a edición), EUNSA, Pamplona 2014
Other texts:
ARISTOTLE, Nicomachean Ethics, Book VIII Viktor E. FRANKL, 2025, Man's Search for Meaning, Boston, MA: Beacon Press Hans JONAS, 1996, "Tool, Image and Grave: On What is Beyond the Animal in Man", in Mortality and Morality: A Search for the Good after Auschwitz, Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press Charles TAYLOR, 1991, "Three Malaises" in The Ethics of Authenticity, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press