Philosophy 109

The goal of the course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to historical and contemporary debates about the issues of freedom and responsibility. We will look at the following questions (among others): What is freedom of will? What is it to be a free agent, or to have freedom of thought? What kind of freedom do we require to be morally responsible for what we do? Are freedom and responsibility possible if what we do is ultimately governed by deterministic laws? Can moral agency be realized in the natural world?

Readings will be drawn from both historical and contemporary sources. Prerequisite: at least eight units in philosophy.

Texts:

G. Watson, ed., Free Will (Oxford, 2003): 0-19-925494-X Anselm, Three Philosophical Dialogues (Hackett, 2002): 0872206114 V. Chappell, ed., Hobbes and Bramhall on Liberty and Necessity (Cambridge, 1999): 0521596688 R. Jay Wallace, Responsibility and the Moral Sentiments (Harvard, 1994): 978-0674766235