自我同一性的倫理議題

The question of our essence, or of what (if anything) allows us to survive as one and the same individual through time, has preoccupied philosophers for centuries. This is known as the debate on “personal identity”. This course will begin by reviewing the main approaches to personal identity in contemporary Philosophy, mostly drawn from the Western analytical literature, while also mentioning the Buddhist and Confucian traditions. Some of these approaches hold that we are fundamentally a physical entity (a human brain, or a human organism); others, that we are at core a mental entity, or even an immaterial spirit, while still others hold that belief in personal identity is an illusion. We will also discuss the related yet distinct notion of “individual” identity, referring to the central characteristics that make us the particular person we are. Finally, we will ask how personal identity relates to what we have reason to be prudentially concerned about (“what matters”, as Derek Parfit put it). The second part of the course will consider to what extent this theoretical framework can help illuminate several important debates in applied ethics. For instance, is abortion ethically wrong? Do advance directives really have authority for a patient at an advanced stage of dementia? Do we owe it to future generations to try and minimize the environmental damage from climate change, and why? And is life after death (say, via resurrection, cryonics, or mind uploading) possible?

Basic training in Philosophy English language skills

Students are asked to read one article or book chapter per week, to regularly attend class, and to participate in discussion. The learning outcomes for this course include: 1. Gain familiarity with the key concepts and prominent positions on the topic of personal identity in contemporary Philosophy. 2. Understand how, and to what extent, these positions have a bearing on various issues in applied ethics. 3. Critically discuss and evaluate the main arguments and positions on the issues discussed in the course. 4. Demonstrate the ability to clearly articulate one’s own arguments and views on these issues, both in oral discussion and in writing.

Class participation (30%): Attendance (10%), oral presentations on the draft of each paper (10%), and participation in discussion according to stated expectations (10%); First paper (35%): Write a paper (betw. 3,000 & 4,000 words long, in English) on any topic discussed between weeks 2 and 10; Second paper (35%): Write a paper (betw. 3,000 & 4,000 words long, in English) on a different topic from the first paper.

Various readings which will be shared on the E3 platform. Introductory readings: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-ethics/ Derek Parfit, Reasons & Persons, chap. 10