Explicitly or implicitly, the question of what makes us human has been a central and ongoing preoccupation among thinkers from antiquity to the present, and in intellectual traditions vastly removed from one another in time and space. That the question seems to be a fixture in the human imagination speaks not only to our need for self-understanding in the context of a broader world, but also to its relevance to issues of practical concern: how one conceptualizes the human has deep normative implications, grounding different moral systems, hierarchies of values, configurations of power and patterns of social interaction. That it has been answered in such diverse ways highlights the great stakes involved in this ongoing conversation.

This course examines the complex and varied trajectory of how thinkers, in China and Europe, have sought to make sense of their humanness. Bringing together specialists in the philosophical and religious traditions of both civilizations, it focuses particularly on the early history of thinking about the human as approached through a diverse range of sources, from ethical and cosmological writings to medical treatises and case studies, to religious and literary texts (such as ancient tragedy). The goal of the course is to explore linkages among the various realms of thought and experience represented by these diverse genres: thus, how emergent conceptions of the cosmos, the spiritual world, and the workings of nature might have shaped the understanding of the human, and conversely, how thinking about what makes humans distinct (for instance, certain cognitive, ethical, creative, spiritual capacities) confronts the place of humans in the world at large. The latter part of the course will focus on later developments in medieval Christian theology and in Renaissance humanism. We will conclude with reflections on the contemporary relevance of the human as a category, and on what examination of past ways of thinking about the human bears upon issues of pressing concern in the present.

Eligibility:

We invite applications from doctoral students, junior faculty and post-doctoral researchers working in relevant fields of either (or both) the Chinese or European intellectual traditions, such as: Philosophy, Intellectual history, Religion, History and Philosophy of Science, and Literature. Advanced M.A. students with research experience in topics relevant to the course will also be considered. The language of instruction is English.

How to apply: Applicants can submit their application through the CEU summer course Embark online application system. Documents to be submitted:

1. Completed online SUN Application Form

2. Full curriculum vitae or resume, including list of publications, if any

3. Letter of Recommendation

4. A rough draft of a paper; or an outline of a research project

Please consult the website for a detailed guide of How to Apply to the summer course.

Program costs:

Tuition Fee: 550 EUR (“Early Bird” fee: 500 EUR)

Accommodation in CEU Residence Center:

- In Single room: 28 EUR/ night / person - including breakfast

- In Shared Double room: 17 EUR/ night / person - including breakfast

Estimated living costs: 210 - 250 EUR

Tuition fee covers:

- a minimum of 24 tuition hours per week

- a certificate of attendance

- access to course E-learning page (with readings, assignments, etc.)

- access to CEU facilities (Library, IT services, sports centre including the use of the indoor swimming pool, tennis courts)

- some social and cultural events depending on the course schedules (e.g. welcome and farewell reception / outings /fieldtrips / film screenings, etc.)

Available Financial Aid packages:

Tuition Waiver
Financial aid: tuition fee waived
Participant's own contribution: health insurance, travel, accommodation and living expense.

Partial SUN Scholarship
Financial aid: tuition fee waived and free accommodation in a double room
Participant's own contribution: health insurance, travel and living expenses

Full SUN Scholarship
Financial aid: tuition fee waived; free accommodation in a double room and a full or partial travel grant
Participant’s own contribution: health insurance and living expenses

Please consult the website for detailed information on eligibility for financial aid packages.

How to Apply: http://www.summer.ceu.hu/sites/default/files/course_files/application_files/HOW%20TO%20APPLY%20-%20What%20Makes%20us%20Human%20-%202016.docx

Financial information: http://www.summer.ceu.hu/sites/default/files/course_files/application_files/Fin%20info%20-%202%20weeks%20-%20What%20Makes%20Us%20Human.docx