Module overview
Human beings have free will, and that is why they are responsible for their actions and choices. Or so we tend to think. But is it really so? Are our choices and actions not determined by factors outside our control—are they not the inevitable upshot of causal processes that start at a distance from us? If so, doesn’t this show that free will is an illusion, and that nobody is responsible for what they do? Embracing this conclusion would radically change the character of our relationships with others. This module aims to explore the question of what it would be to have a free will, to consider in light of answers to that question whether we possess such a thing, and to examine the connections between freedom and responsibility.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions.
- debate and criticise ideas and arguments in an even-handed fashion.
- present ideas, both orally and in writing, clearly and carefully.
- articulate and defend your own views regarding the issues the module concerns.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- competing views of freedom.
- the implications of those views, in particular for the issue of whether and to what extent we are responsible for our actions and decisions.
- the arguments for and against those views.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- work effectively to deadlines.
- express views clearly and concisely.
- undertake independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
- contribute to discussion in a critical but dispassionate way.
- take notes from talks and written materials.
Syllabus
The syllabus for this module may vary from year to year. Topics covered may include:
- determinism and indeterminism
- compatibilism and incompatibilism
- libertarianism
- the nature of responsibility.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- Lectures
- In-class discussion
- One-on-one consultation with module co-ordinator
Learning activities include
- Attending classes
- Contributing to class discussion
- Doing independent research for and writing assessed essays and exams
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 24 |
| Completion of assessment task | 22 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 24 |
| Follow-up work | 24 |
| Revision | 23 |
| Lecture | 33 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
T Pink (2004). Free Will: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Group presentation
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback:
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: Yes
- Percentage contribution: 100%
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 60% |
| Group presentation | 40% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Timed Assignment | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 60% |
| Presentation | 40% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External