Universität Wien

180026 PS Theory & Ethics of Personal Identity (2024S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 45 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Montag 11.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 18.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 08.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 15.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 22.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 29.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 06.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 13.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 27.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 03.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 10.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 17.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 24.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Once upon a time, there was a small, baby-shaped block of organic matter, that would go on to become you, being held by your parent(s) for the first time. Now, there is an adult-human-shaped block of organic matter reading this. In the future, there will be an elderly-human-shaped block of organic matter enjoying their retirement, who is the person you will become. These three organic blocks are the same person. Why are they the same person? What makes some particular human-shaped block you, as opposed to some other? Could you stop being you if, for instance, you had a brain transplant? Or what if you lost many of your memories?

These kinds of questions are not merely theoretical, they are of huge ethical importance. If you now know some future-you will have Alzheimer's, does this give you the right to make decisions for your future self? Should you make decisions based on your current desires or those of your future self? What is the earliest part of your organic development that is really you?

Theory & Ethics of Personal Identity provides an introduction to the main theories of personal identity and the considerations counting for and against them. In the second half of the course, these theories are applied to a series of ethical cases in which issues of personal identity are relevant and impactful: advanced directives, dissociative identity disorder and abortion.

Aside from being interesting and relevant in and of itself, the topic of the ethics of personal identity serves as a bridge between questions in theoretical and practical philosophy. It demonstrates the relevance of (some) theoretical questions to practical ethical concerns. Whilst this is primarily an ethics course, it also serves to connect ethics to the more theoretical parts of your studies.

Note: We are going to discuss a number of emotionally loaded ethical topics in this course. As part of the course we will have a discussion about how to discuss topics like these in a safe and productive manner. By signing up to this course you are agreeing to be respectful and considerate of your classmates during discussions on emotional issues and to abide by group rules around these discussions.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

The assessment has two parts: class tasks & the final essay.

During the semester we will have a number of in-class tasks (~2 or 3). These are assessed on a merit/pass/fail basis.
If you complete all of these tasks and submit a reasonable attempt at the final essay you will get at least a 3.
Higher grades (2 and 1) are awarded on the basis of the final essay, compensated for merits in the tasks.
The exact essay length is to be determined but is currently planned for ~2500 words.

The essay can be on any topic covered in the course.
Subject to agreement, you are welcome to write on other adjacent topics not discussed in the course.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

(1) Completion of all in-class tasks, or suitable replacement tasks in the event of illness or reasonable absence.
(2) Completion of the final essay.

Prüfungsstoff

Tasks may test academic skills including but not limited to: reading comprehension, short form academic writing, presenting and argument analysis.

The essay will be on a topic of your choice from the course or, subject to approval, an adjacent topic.

Literatur

Primary Reading: David Shoemaker, "Personal Identity and Ethics: A Brief Introduction", 2008
https://philpapers.org/rec/SHOPIA-3
There is no eBook version of this (I will upload scans of chapters to Moodle) so getting hold of a physical copy is potentially recommended.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Mo 04.03.2024 17:06