Notions of Self in Philosophy and Social Theory

Catalog description

The ancient Greeks commanded, Know thyself! Three millennia later we are still struggling to do so. But what is the self? Where do we find it? How are we to understand this notion and how are we to understand our-selves? Furthermore, how do we approach the being which is not myself, namely, the other? What kind of relationships separate and bind self and other? Is it possible to view the world through the eyes of an other? In this course, we will be looking for ways to better understand these questions as they are presented in the disciplines of philosophy and social thought. We will also explore representations of self and other as constructed in psychoanalysis, literature, and film. The course is intended to help the student gain a deeper understanding of the different perspectives of human identity in society.