3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course focuses on two questions: (1) What am I? And (2) who am I? The first question is the central problem in the personal identity literature—a core topic analytic philosophy. Philosophers have offered a wide variety of answers, including souls, persons, brains, human animals, and nothing at all, often through fantastical thought experiments. The second question concerns the self—the stable traits and characteristics that make you the sort of person you are and underwrite your choices and actions. In this course, we will examine the foundations of these topics, as well as their applications to issues like pregnancy, dementia, addiction, and attitudes towards death. Recommended Course Background: Introductory Philosophy Course.