Focus on Philosophy: Free Will, or Free Won't?

Overview

Do we have control over our own actions? Philosophers have been discussing the question of free will since the beginning of Western philosophy. Many of the most important philosophical figures including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Kant have contributed to this discussion throughout the years, discussing free will in the context of metaphysics, ethics, and beyond. 
 
In this course, you will explore the question of free will in the context of philosophy and learn about the positions of its advocates and critics. We will also discuss the findings of the sciences beyond philosophy, as well as the views on this topic from the discipline of neuroscience. 
 
Curiosity and openness to share your opinions are the only prerequisites, feel free to join us even if you are new to the world of philosophy! 
 
'Focus on Philosophy’ is a series of online learning modules, which focus on philosophical thought and debate. They give students an opportunity to consider the fundamental questions and explore the history of philosophy, from ancient times up to the present day. Studying philosophy helps you to improve logical and critical thinking, develop coherent arguments and write persuasively. 

Programme

Delivered as units and tasks as part of a self-paced, online learning framework. 
The specific topics related to free will are discussed as part of the fields of Ethics, Metaphysics, Existentialism, Moral Philosophy and the Philosophy of Religion. 
 
Each unit will include a historical overview, context for the authors covered and their respective positions in the topic of free will, as well as pointers to further readings and other multimedia material related to their work. This way students will have a clear way of further engaging with a topic that they find especially interesting. 

• Unit 1 - Overview of the Issues 
• Unit 2 - Theories of free will 1 – Compatibilism and Determinism 
• Unit 3 - Theories of free will 2 – Libertarianism and Incompatibilism 
• Unit 4 - Neuroscience and free will   
• Unit 5 - Free will – in the eye of the law

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:  

1. Interpret, summarize, and paraphrase the views of philosophers as expressed in the topic of free will.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the historical and social contexts of a number of philosophical movements.
3. Respond critically to philosophical ideas and theories regarding free will.
4. Formulate arguments and evidence opinions relating to philosophical issues. 

Assessments

1. Discussion board contributions (30%)
2. Essay 1500 words (70%)

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.