Conscience as the Gift of Death

3 credits

This course examines the structure of conscience as the crucial definition of the modern subject. The event of death, and sacrifice (or what Jacques Derrida calls "the gift of death"), radically change the meaning of moral responsibility. Students will explore the act of (moral) decision-making as an "instant of madness." *Note: Students may receive credit for one of ENGL 817AM or ENGL 480AM.*