PHIL 740

Metaphysics 1

Please note: this is archived course information from 2012 for PHIL 740.

Description

Persons and Persistence

Here’s the seed question from which puzzles about personal identity over time grow: “Suppose at some time t1 there is a person p who around that time performs certain actions and has certain experiences. Suppose that at some other time t2 there exists an entity e. What conditions are required for p to be numerically identical with e?”. This leads to fundamental questions about numerous aspects of philosophy, including ontology, identity, philosophical methodology and values, amongst others. This topic has particularly flourished over the past four decades and the contemporary literature on it is vast.

After an initial survey of the topic we will work our way through a selection of the main debates. Precise selections will be determined with class input. Readings will include notes, journal articles and substantial portions of Harold Noonan, Personal Identity (Blackwell, 2nd edition, 2003). Note that the Library has electronic access to this work as well as having it in hard copy.

Availability 2012

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Denis Robinson

Points

PHIL 740: 15 points