Philosophy and Phenomenology of Freedom: Problems and Perspectives FIL-ENG-SM>monog2
The course is devoted to a philosophical analysis of the concept of freedom and to the major positions in the debate on free will and human responsibility. It offers a systematic historical and conceptual overview of the problem of freedom, tracing its development from ancient philosophy through medieval and modern thought to contemporary phenomenological and existential approaches.
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with classical and modern conceptions of freedom and to develop the ability to distinguish its fundamental meanings, such as freedom of choice, moral freedom, ontological freedom, autonomy of the subject, and responsibility. The course provides conceptual tools necessary for a rigorous philosophical reflection on human action, agency, and subjectivity.
Course outline:
1. What is freedom? Conceptual and terminological clarification
2. Is the human being free? The debate on the existence of free will
3. Freedom in the thought of Socrates and Plato
4. Freedom in Aristotle and the Hellenistic schools
5. St Augustine’s doctrine of freedom and its development in St Thomas Aquinas
6. Conceptions of freedom at the threshold of modernity (Pico della Mirandola, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Martin Luther)
7. Freedom in Descartes. The problem of determinism (Spinoza, Leibniz)
8. Classical liberalism: T. Hobbes, J. Locke
9. Hume’s moral theory. Freedom and responsibility in Kant
10. The eclipse of individual freedom: Fichte, Hegel, Marx, positivism
11. The recovery of individual freedom: S. Kierkegaard, G. Marcel, J.-P. Sartre, A. Camus
12. Phenomenology of freedom: M. Scheler, M. Heidegger, M. Merleau-Ponty
13. Freedom in Józef Tischner’s philosophy of drama
14. Conclusion: freedom and responsibility
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student:
1. is familiar with the main philosophical conceptions of freedom and the principal positions in the debate on free will and determinism;
2. understands the different meanings of freedom (including freedom of choice, moral freedom, ontological freedom, autonomy, and responsibility) and is able to distinguish between them;
3. is able to identify the philosophical assumptions concerning freedom that underlie reflections on human action and subjectivity;
4. demonstrates a basic ability to critically assess the problem of human freedom and responsibility.
Assessment criteria
Students are encouraged to attend lectures regularly, as they introduce the key concepts and perspectives discussed throughout the course.
Assessment is based on either an oral examination or a written essay on a topic agreed upon with the instructor and related to the themes of the course. This flexibility allows students, including international and Erasmus students, to choose the form of assessment best suited to their academic background.
Evaluation takes into account:
- understanding of the main philosophical concepts,
- clarity of argument,
- and the ability to distinguish and explain different conceptions of freedom.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: