What does it mean to believe we are free? How do we reconcile the concept of an omniscient god, or that of natural causality, with the idea of individual freedom? These questions have been raised by philosophers for at least 2,500 years. Without an answer to them, our self-understanding as moral beings, responsible for our actions, is jeopardized. In this course, students consider different answers offered by thinkers from Plato to Nietzsche and beyond. Focusing on the problem of free will from both religious-ethical and scientific-materialist points of view, students reflect on the importance and difficulty of ascribing moral responsibility to human action, and the implications this might have on our contemporary understanding of education and punishment, among other issues. Assignments will include one class presentation on a particular reading, one short paper (3-5 pages) on a particular reading, six 200/250-word response papers for 6 different readings, and one final paper (7-9 pages).