Personal Identity and Choice
PHIL 218
Fall 2012 not offered
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We will explore philosophical reflections on the problem of personal identity and its relationship to matters of choice and freedom. How do certain experiences and thoughts and physical materials compose oneself? Am I the same person over time even through complete transformations of experience, thought, and material? Can I choose which elements of my existence to count as essential? Some argue the concept of a unified and enduring self partakes of illusion; at the other extreme, some argue for the permanent integrity of individual souls. Regarding choice and freedom, we find a related debate, ranging from those who deny freewill altogether to those who define humanity's essence in terms of choice and agency. Might we coherently say that some human selves can have more integrity and others, less? What gives a measure of meaningful coherence to a person's life? Similarly, can we distinguish some choices as more free than others? What makes for meaningful choice? Besides serving as an introduction to philosophical reasoning, the course will draw interdisciplinary connections on themes such as social identities, religious experience, political freedom, and legal responsibility. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA PHIL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (PHIL)(PHIL-Philosophy)(PHIL-Social Jus)(STS) |
Major Readings:
Readings include both classic and contemporary philosophical texts, along with some material from related social science fields.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Evaluation will focus on weekly writing, discussion, participation in peer critique, revison of writing, and a final essay. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
No previous philosophy is required, although students should be prepared to engage in some dense reading and argument analysis.
Learning and Living Seminar
This First Year Seminar is part of Wesleyan's Learning and Living Program. Students who register for this class will live together in the same residence hall. Because students are living in close proximity to one another, intellectual discussions and collaborative learning will extend beyond the classroom. This arrangement facilitates group assignments and projects, and allows for the growth of a strong community of students through daily interaction. Strengthening students' intellectual and residential community enhances the undergraduate experience for Learning and Living seminar participants. |
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