Self, Freedom and Morality

Catalog description

This course explores four core questions in philosophy: What can we know? What is the self? Are we free? And how should we live? We begin with skepticism and the problem of knowledge, turn to questions about the nature of mind and personal identity, examine debates about free will and moral responsibility, and conclude with competing views in ethics and the search for meaning in life. A central aim of the course is to introduce not only philosophical topics but also philosophical thinking. You will learn to analyze arguments, assess the strength of reasons, and articulate your own views with clarity and rigor. The course presumes no prior experience with philosophy - only curiosity and a willingness to question familiar assumptions.