180025 PS Who am I and who should I be? (2025S)

Christine M. Korsgaard is one of the most influential contemporary ethicists. In her foundational work "The Sources of Normativity (1996)", she has developed one of the most significant reinterpretations of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy. What is the source of the normative claims that we encounter in our everyday lives? Or, put differently: Why ought we to do what we ought to do? This could be considered the central question of this work.

The aim of this course is to engage intensively with Korsgaard’s work and immerse ourselves in her thinking. Her highly systematic and structured style of argumentation provides an accessible introduction for beginners in the fields of ethics and moral philosophy. In The Sources of Normativity, she outlines various positions within ethical debates and then develops her own ethical and metaethical approach, which ultimately revolves around the substantive question: Who am I, and who do I want to be?

The main focus of the seminar will be on the book "The Sources of Normativity". Especially, the concept of "practical identities" that Korsgaard presents in this book appears to be particularly relevant in an era of identity politics. Nevertheless, we will also discuss parts of other texts of Korsgaard or contributions from other authors.

Method/Teaching Format:
We will engage with Korsgaard’s original English text. At the beginning of each seminar session, the course instructor will typically provide a brief introduction to the respective section of the text. This will be followed by a student-led discussion, in which all participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, questions, and comments.