161-106 Freedom and Constraint

Formerly available as 161-005. Students who have completed 161-005 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

This subject is an introduction to contemporary European philosophy. Its theme is the tension between the freedom implied by consciousness and the constraints imposed by nature, culture and society. Freedom of thought and action arises from our capacity for reflection and imagination. And yet as natural, social and historical beings we appear as selves to be constrained by our biological and psychological needs and our social and historical position. The extent to which these factors constrain or merely influence our lives will be examined. Philosophers to be discussed will include Sartre, de Beauvoir, Althusser, Foucault, Freud and Saussure. On completion of the subject students should be able to recognise the distinctive nature of philosophical problems and their significance for other areas of thought; know how to go about working through such problems; be in a position to engage with more philosophical material and to apply their philosophical skills in other disciplines.

Two essays, one of 500 words and one of 1500 words, participation in tutorials and a 2-hour examination.

A subject reader will be available.