Anglo-American University in Prague Advanced Seminar in Philosophy
| Course Name | Advanced Seminar in Philosophy |
| Course Code | PHI600 |
| Description | 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. |
| Learning Outcomes | Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: – Critically discuss the nature of freedom in the context of necessity, rights, autonomy, and authenticity; – Understand how philosophers reflected freedom in the societies that they are part of; – Compare the main arguments of the contemporary philosophers; – Reflect on relations of the individuals and a society and the role of freedom in social structures, e.g., in political, legal, economic as well as family and religious structures. |
| School | School of Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Level | Master |
| Number of credits (US / ECTS) | 3 US / 6 ECTS |