個人同一性、死亡與人類處境

What are you? Are you your body, your brain, your memories – or something else entirely? And what exactly is lost when someone dies? This course explores the fundamental question of our essence, or of what philosophers call "personal identity”: what – if anything – allows us to survive as the same individual over time? We will examine competing theories of personal identity, including the traditional view that we are immaterial souls, and contemporary views that identify us with psychological continuity, biological organisms, or the persistence of our brains. We will also explore narrative approaches that emphasize the role of memory and self-understanding in shaping who we are, as well as the Buddhist claim that the self is an illusion. These theories will be applied to major philosophical and ethical questions concerning life and death. When do we cease to exist? Why is death bad (assuming it is bad), and what makes killing wrong? Do advance directives remain valid when a patient has lost their psychological capacities? Could a person survive death through resurrection or mind uploading? By addressing these questions, the course sheds light on the nature of the self and its place in the human condition, while developing students’ ability to analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.

None. However, as the course is conducted in English, students should have the English reading, writing and communication skills necessary to engage with philosophical texts and participate in class discussions. Please note that this course is open to first- and second-year Master's students, as well as undergraduate students. Graduate students in other years who would like to take the course for credit should contact the instructor directly. Finally, auditing will not be allowed.

無備註

Pdfs of the readings will be made available in advance on the E3 platform. If students from other campuses wish to join the course, sessions will be live-streamed on Google Meet to allow for remote participation.

We will be reading and discussing one book chapter or article each week. The assessment scheme will involve three components: • Class participation and attendance (25% of the overall grade): attendance, completion of required readings & participation in seminar discussion. • First written assignment (35%): - Written paper (3,000-4,000 words long for graduate students; 2,000-3,000 words long for undergraduates, in English) on any topic discussed between weeks 2 and 7: 25%; - Oral presentation and discussion of draft: 10%. • Second written assignment (40%): - Written paper (3,000-4,000 words long for graduate students; 2,000-3,000 words long for undergraduates, in English) on any topic discussed between weeks 9 and 15: 30%; - Oral presentation and discussion of draft: 10%.

教師未提供此項資料

• We will be reading selected chapters from the following books: • Blackford, R. & Broderick, D. (eds.). Intelligence Unbound: The Future of Uploaded and Machine Minds. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2014. • DeGrazia, D. Human Identity and Bioethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. • McMahan, J. The Ethics of Killing: Problems at the Margins of Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. • Parfit, D. Reasons and Persons. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984. • Sauchelli, A. Personal Identity and Applied Ethics: a Historical and Philosophical Introduction. London: Taylor & Francis, 2018. • Siderits, M. Buddhism as Philosophy: an Introduction. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2007. • Swinburne, R. The Evolution of the Soul. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

地點

Room 315, Zhi Xing Building, NYCU (Yang Ming campus)

時間

By appointment

聯絡方式

alexerler@nycu.edu.tw