PHI 401 Advanced Seminar in Philosophy

This seminar concerns a central feature of human life in modern society that we as humans pursue and enjoy: freedom. The course is dedicated to the questions that are related to the meaning and nature of the freedom of the individual in society. It examines philosophically freedom in the context of necessity and fate; it analyzes the modern concept of freedom as it is protected by constitutional rights; it reflects on freedom as it stems from the autonomy of the individual and, finally, it analyzes the postmodern concept of freedom as authenticity.

The class introductions, research-reading and discussions include historical and systematic aspects of the issue. We will examine the nature of freedom in society as it was appreciated by ancient Athenian thinkers, medieval scholars and especially by modern and postmodern humans not so much to study the history of freedom but to critically understand freedom as freedom remains the central feature of human life in postmodern global society.