(in Polish) The metaphysics of the human: identity, consciousness, and experience 3501-MHICE18-S-OG

The course will be devoted to the metaphysics of the human and will examine the question of what can count as constituting the crucial subject matter when we conceive of ourselves as ourselves. The seminar group will examine modern and contemporary analytic as well as ‘continental’ texts to trace various ways in which subjectivity, identity, and consciousness have been understood with regard to the constitution of the human person, and her relation to the world.

This debate has its roots in St Augustine’s taking individual subjectivity as the point of departure for philosophy, but is historically defined in Descartes’s subjective rationalism.
We will cover classic questions defining the debate in the modern period like: what sort of enquiry may give us knowledge of the subjective, what sort of knowledge is it, what is the relationship between mind and world, does personal identity depend on the continuity of memories, or are there other psychological criteria and conditions determining it? Or is it rather a matter of the continuity of the body? The first part of the course will serve as an overview of how the problem of personal identity was conceived in the history of philosophy, with a special focus on Descartes, Locke and Hume.

In the second part of the course the focus will be on the contemporary discussion, within the analytic and continental traditions, which attempts to solve problems with conceptions of identity inherited with the classical views. This part of the course will investigate questions like whether it is rational to care about one's future existence or not, and whether the solipsism inherent in first personal accounts of the human subject can be overcome? Students will examine the discussion between Husserl and Sartre on the problem of the transcendence of the ego; Parfit's view that what matters most to us is not identity but survival, and its consequences for modern conceptions of identity; Schechtman's view that what matters most for moral purposes is descriptive identity and not quantitative identity (the forensic account of identity); as well as the contemporary revival of dualistic and panpsychist accounts in authors from Nagel to Goff. These conceptions will be illustrated with the examination of speculative problem cases of teletransportation, bodily doubles, disembodied selves, etc.

Type of course

elective seminars
general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Znajomość języka angielskiego

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE
Structured knowledge of issues and problems connected with the question of personal identity, consciousness, and experience within the philosophical tradition. (PL: ustrukturyzowana wiedza dotycząca problemów związanych z tożsamością osobową, świadomością oraz doświadczeniem)

Thorough understanding of the contemporary discussion stemming from difficulties with traditional ways of approaching the problems of personal identity, including the question of the relevance of the concept of a person for determining an identity relation for individuals. (PL: pogłębione rozumienie problemów dotyczących tożsamości osobowej wywodzacych się z tradycyjnych ujęć oraz unikania tych trudności we współczesnych sposobach argumentacji)

Acquaintance with the research methods and argumentative strategies in the areas of contemporary and modern philosophy pertaining to subjectivity, as well as a deepened ability to interpret and asses in context the philosophical literature on the subject. (PL: zaznajomienie i metodami badawczymi, oraz strategiami argumentacji w odniesieniu do zagadnień związanych z podmiotowością w filozofii nowożytnej I współczesnej)

Knowledge of expanded philosophical vocabulary relevant to the contemporary as well as classical discussion of issues connected with personal identity, consciousness, and experience within different currents of contemporary and modern philosophy. (PL: znajomość rozszeżonej terminologii filozoficznej istotnej dla rozumienia nowożytnej i współczesnej dyskusji dotyczącej tożsamości, świaddomości I doświadczenia)

In depth knowledge of a chosen philosopher or theory within contemporary or classical conceptions developed with view of presenting a paper before the group. (PL: pogłębiona wiedza dotycząca wybranej teorii filozoficznej będącej przedmiotem referatu)

SKILLS
Ability to independently research, analyse and assess primary and secondary sources, as well as the ability to present research conclusions in a structured and logical manner, and being able to rely on the relevant philosophical vocabulary. (PL: umiejętność samodzielnej analizy i oceny tekstów oraz zaprezentowania efektów badań w ustrukturyzowany i logiczny sposób, wykorzystując odpowiednie słownictwo filozoficzne)

Ability to distinguish between the major subdivisions in contemporary philosophy in the way they approach the topic of subjectivity and the philosophical languages they involve. (PL: umiejętność rozróżnienia istotnych trendów we współczesnej filozofi podmiotu oraz dyskursów, jakimi się posługują)

Ability to assess the importance and impact of philosophical positions in the area of reflection on subjectivity. (PL: umiejętność oceny istotności i wpływu stanowisk filozoficznych w obszarze refleksji na temat podmiotowości)

SOCIAL COMPETENCE
The gaining of an appreciation of the cultural heritage and breadth of European reflection and import to the discussion of the constitution of the human subject. (PL: zrozumienie wkładu tradycji refleksji filozoficznej w Europie do dyskusji na temat konstytucji ludzkiego podmiotu)

A developed awareness of the significance of a multi-dimensional understanding of the human person in her multiple relations which others and the world. (PL: rozwinięta świadomość znaczenia wielowymiarowego rozumienia człowieczeństwa także w perspektywie różnorakich relacji określających człowieka w społeczeństwie)

Ability to assess the degree of acquired knowledge, and to expand and deepen it independently where necessary. (PL: umiejętność oceny stopnia zdobytej wiedzy I samodzielnego poszerzenia jej tam gdzie to konieczne)

Ability to identify concrete ethical and social problems connected with the studied topic and the sensitivity for different conflicting perspectives. (PL: umiejętność zidentyfikowania konkretnych problemów etycznych i społecznych związanych z omawianym tematem połączona z wrażliwością na napięcia pomiędzy odmiennymi perspektywami)

Assessment criteria

Students will be assessed based on three criteria: attendance, participation during discussion, as well as a presentation in class. With regard to class discussion the student's ability to understand the discussed problems, assess the arguments of the text and the arguments of others participants, and to argue coherently for their own position during the seminar will be assessed. The presentation made by every participant as an introduction to each of the discussed topics, and thinkers will be assessed in terms of their reasoning and comprehensive skills. The final grade will be determined by how many of the above criteria students fulfil during the course.

Bibliography

- Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, Meditations One and Two.
- Locke, J. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding: Book 2: Chapter 27
- Hume Treatise of Human Nature, I, 4, vi, and the appendix
- Williams, Bernard. 1970. "The Self and the Future," Philosophical Review 79 (2): 161-180.
- Husserl E. Cartesian Meditations: Meditation 5
- Sartre J.P. The Transcendence of the Ego
- Priest, Stephen, The Subject in Question, Sartre’s critique of Husserl
- Michael Tye, Consciousness and Persons: Unity and Identity (fragm)
- Richard Sorabji, Self: Ancient and Modern Insights about Individuality, Life, and Death (fragm.)
- Parfit, D. 1984. Reasons and Persons. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ch. 12-13
- Korsgaard Christine, “Personal Identity and the Unity of Agency: A Kantian Response to Parfit,” from Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 18, No. 2.
- Schechtman Marya, The Constitution of Selves Cornell University Press, 1996 (fragm)
- T. Nagel, „What Is It Like to Be a Bat”/A View From Nowhere (fragm.)
- Paul Churchland “Reduction, Qualia, and the Direct Introspection of the Brain.”
- Collin McGinn "Can We Solve the Mind-Body Problem?"
- Dennett, Daniel C. "The Brain and Its Boundaries". Times Literary Supplement (London) (May 10, 1991).
- D. Chalmers, The Consious Mind (fragm.)
- Peter Hacker, "Hacker's challenge". The Philosopher's Magazine(2010). 51 (51): 23–32.
- Jerry Valberg, Dream, Death, and the Self (fragm.)

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

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Description of 3501-MHICE18-S-OG in USOSweb