Fall 2005

Honors 4474.001
Constituting the Self: Memory, Consciousness, and Agency

T Th 2:00-3:20, OSH 231

Professor Bryan Benham

bryan.benham@philosophy.utah.edu

Office: OSH 338K, 581-7302

Course Description

This course will focus on one of the fundamental questions of human existence: Who am I? What is the self? Is the self a substantive entity of its own? Is it a product of certain biological, psychological, or social features? Is it a fiction? We will examine the self as it is understood through the categories of memory, consciousness and agency. The readings will draw from a variety of sources - e.g., philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, literature, etc. - providing a survey of the leading theories of self. We will then turn a critical eye on these theories in light of recent experimental findings, personal experiences, and other current issues that bear on the notion of the self.

Required Texts

• (SI) Self & Identity: Contemporary Philosophical Issues . Kolak & Martin, Eds. Macmillian Publishing Company, 1991.   ISBN: 002365710.
• (MS) Models of the Self . Gallagher & Shear, Eds. Imprint Academic, 1999. ISBN: 0907845096.
• (PI) Personal Identity . John Perry, Ed. Hackett, 1975. ISBN: 0520029607.
• (Reserve) Selected Readings available at Marriott Library Reserve (Electronic)

Course Grades

• The course structure will be lecture and discussion, with greater emphasis on discussion. The course will be reading and writing intensive, with written assignments due nearly every class period. And students will be expected to attend and participate in discussion each class meeting.
• Formal Grade Requirements:
• 80% = Two term papers (40% each) on students' choice of topic regarding the self as discussed in class.   I will provide some topic ideas and discuss the requirements of the paper in more depth (see course web site). See schedule for due dates. NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED, except in extreme emergency. No Paper accepted via e-mail; hardcopies only. Recommendations for writing Honors papers.
• 20% = Attendance and Summaries: Each class meeting the student will write a brief summary (1-2 pages) of the readings for that day. Summaries should consist of three parts: First, a summary of the main ideas expressed in the assigned reading(s); Second, the student's critical reflections on the assigned reading(s); Third, at least two questions about the reading(s) for classroom discussion. Summaries will be graded on a credit/no credit basis.   There will be approximately 28 assigned readings over the semester.   For an A the student must do at least 90%, for a B the student must do at least 80%, and so forth.   NO LATE SUMMARIES ACCEPTED. No summaries accepted via e-mail.

Course and University Policies

•  University ADA : The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.   If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD).   CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

•  University Attendance Policy   http://www.acs.utah.edu/sched/handbook/attend.htm

•  Accommodation Policy   http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/index.html

•  Academic Honesty   http://www.sa.utah.edu/code.html

•  Drop/Withdrawal and Other Important Dates to Remember : http://www.saff.utah.edu/regist/calendar/datesDeadlines/fall2005.htm

•  University Grades : Grades will be assigned according to the standards reported in the class schedule http://www.acs.utah.edu/sched/handbook/grpolicy.htm

•  ASUU Tutoring Center and the University Writing Center:

•  ASUU Tutoring Center   http://www.sa.utah.edu/tutoring /

•  University Writing Center http://www.writingcenter.utah.edu/