Who I Am

Catalog description

Through an engagement with philosophers writing and thinking from different perspectives, this course addresses theories of identity, self, and soul; immortality and death; narrative and dialogue; relations among selves, others, and communities; and issues of ethical, social, and political responsibility. Some of the questions it asks include: Am I still the same ?me' I was 10 years ago or is there a ?me' at all? What does it mean to be a self and is that what we actually are? What kinds of accounts or narratives can express personal or private experiences? How do we understand about the viewpoints of another self or a stranger? What are the relationships between identity and memory, personhood and religious belief, individuality and community? How does my sense of self impact my relations with others or with God? What does it mean to achieve personal fulfillment? Are my goals driven by others' expectations or community values? The course will not provide answers to this set of questions, but will introduce students to a series of conceptual approaches to thinking through the nature of the self.