Module overview
The more that modern science reveals about the nature of the world around us, the more mysterious some aspects of human beings become. How can we make sense of notions like free-will, moral responsibility, and the independent self in a world which appears to be solely governed by physical laws? Given what we know about the world, what ought we expect from ourselves and each other, and what kind of life should we pursue? These kinds of questions are not unique to our time. In fact, each generation of philosophers have struggled with these practical questions, and produced answers which were informed by their own personalities, context, and historical period.
Through careful attention to selected philosophers and their historical context, this module will explore issues of perennial importance such as: What is freedom, and are we free? What is the self, and how much can we understand it? What is virtue, and what kind of life might achieve it? What, if anything, is the connection between our practical interests and the study of philosophy, and how can they inform each other?