PHIL 200
Philosophy of Mind
Please note: this is archived course information from 2021 for PHIL 200.
Description
Philosophy of mind aims to understand the nature of the mind and its place in the natural world. In this course, we will draw on recent advances in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, as well as contemporary philosophy of mind, to investigate topics such as consciousness, perception, thought, mental causation, mind-reading and the self.
We will aim to answer questions like, ‘What would make something, e.g. a brain or even an artificially intelligent robot, have a mind?’, ‘How and why does physical processing give rise to conscious experiences?’, ‘Does perception ever provide us with direct access to the external world?’, ‘Do we think in a language?’, How do I know whether animals, even other humans, have minds?’, and ‘What is the self?’
We will approach these topics using the tools of analytic philosophy, where students will learn how to formulate arguments with precision, and critically evaluate their premises by drawing on a mixture of philosophical and scientific theory.
Assessment:
Coursework only
Availability 2021
Semester 1
Lecturer(s)
Lecturer(s) Dr Raamy Majeed
Points
PHIL 200: 15 points
Prerequisites
30 points in Philosophy, or 60 points
Restrictions
PHIL 320
