Section 4: do we have souls? Readings: Are there Souls? (Descartes and Princess Elizabeth) [PDF] How can Souls Move Bodies? (Blog post on Descartes and Elizabeth) What is it Like to be a Bat? (Nagel) [PDF]
Section 5: do we have free will? Readings: Neuroscientific challenges to free will and responsibility (Roskies) [PDF] Free Will, Habits and Self-Control (Churchland) [PDF] Does The Desire to Punish Have Any Place in Modern Justice (Popular Article) Section 6: are there objective moral facts? Readings: The Challenge of Cultural Relativism (Rachels) [PDF] 10 Arguments Against Moral Objectivity (Shafer-Landau) [PDF]
Critical Essay due (last day of class)
Final: TBD (in class essay format)
Policies: Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you have any questions, please talk with me and/or consult the UBC academic misconduct policy here. I ask that each of you take a critical stance in class. However, 'critical' does not mean 'mean-spirited' or 'disrespectful.' Please be respectful of your fellow students.
Learning goals: students will develop skills in critical reasoning, writing and discussion through learning the basics of critical thinking and the content of key philosophical theories.