Objectives | Texts | Topics | Assignments | Grades | Disabilities | Annotations | Calendar |
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COURSE OBJECTIVES The course will provide an overview of traditional and contemporary problems in the philosophy of mind. While various philosophical projects are treated, emphasis is placed on tracing the philosophical implications of contemporary research in neurobiology, cognitive psychology, and the behavioral sciences. Topics in both classical philosophy of mind and applied philosophical psychology will be covered; after considering three broad philosophical theories of mentality, students will be encouraged assess and critique the applicability of philosophical theory to conceptual problems derived from the special sciences of mind. |
Required Texts The following texts will figure prominently in class discussion; a thorough familiarity with their contents is advised:
Course Downloads |
Recommended Texts The following texts are recommended as ancillary; a limited supply of them should be available in local bookstores:
Course Links |
(1) ON THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS |
Consciousness and the Mind/Body Problem: Three Philosophical Perspectives |
Readings: Dennett, Kinds of Minds
Chalmers, The Conscious Mind Churchland, Neurophilosophy |
(2) SOUL SEARCHING |
Passions, Proofs, and Personalities: Three Philosophical Problems |
Readings: Damasio, Descartes' Error
Hacking, Rewriting the Soul Changeux & Connes, Mattière à Pensée |
(3) CURING THE COMMON CODE |
Models, Machines, and Mentality: Three Philosophical Puzzles |
Readings: Calvin, The Cerebral Code
Rosenberg, How History Gets Things Wrong |
A calendar of readings, discussion topics, and written assignments is provided below. Since the readings will serve as the primary springboard for discussions, it is vital that you be familiar with whatever texts are appropriate to a
topic BEFORE that topic is covered in class. Class discussion will approximate seminar format, so joint inquiry will generally take precedence over ex cathedra lecture.
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There will be three (3) written assignments (none to exceed ten double-spaced typed pages), as follows. |
(1) Theoretical Analysis. Outline the essential features of a contemporary theory of consciousness; include some discussion of the metaphysical assumptions, methodological practices, and substantive claims that characterize
the theory in view. (2) Applied Analysis. Various arguments are presented in the texts for the second part of the course (Soul Searching), many purporting to have solved or dissolved some classical philosophical problem or other (e.g., memory & personality, sense & reference, knowledge & perception, etc.); examine and evaluate one such argument. (3) Experimental Analysis. Devise a thought-experiment to test an hypothesis derived or derivable from a specific (biological, computational, mechanical, etc.) model of mentality.
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Ten percent of the final grade will reflect class participation. The remaining ninety percent of the final grade will be based on the following division (total possible points = 90):
(a) Theoretical Analysis: 30 pts. |
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with your instructor as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services. |
The following markers are designed to index problems in essay work. They are NOT arranged in order of severity. They do NOT necessarily correlate with grade assignments. |
*****SYNTAX***** (1) Spelling error here. (2) Noncritical weakness in sentence structure. (3) Critical weakness in sentence structure. (meaning lost). (4) Punctuation not clear. *****SEMANTICS***** (5) Term or phrase unclear or unexplained. (6) Term or phrase ambiguous. (7) New paragraph warranted here. (8) Circumlocution here; simpler expression available. *****ANALYSIS***** (9) General structure of this argument unclear. (10) Conclusion does not follow without unstated assumptions. (11) Relevance of this point to your argument is not clear. (12) This assertion is questionable and requires further support. (13) Further consequences of this claim are unmentioned but relevant. (14) This inference is formally invalid. |
DATE |
MATERIALS COVERED |
DATE |
MATERIALS COVERED |
A. 27 |
Introductory; Syllabus |
15 |
Fall Break - No Classes |
29 |
Dennett, Chapters 1-2 |
17 |
Hacking, Chapters 1-4 |
S. 03 |
Dennett, Chapters 3-4 |
22 |
Hacking, Chapters 5-9 |
05 |
Dennett, Chapters 5-6 |
24 |
Hacking, Chapters 10-14 |
10 |
Chalmers, Chapters 1-3 |
29 |
Hacking, Chapters 15-18 |
12 |
Chalmers, Chapters 4-8 |
31 |
Changeux & Connes, Chapters 1-3 |
17 |
Chalmers, Chapters 9-10 |
N. 05 |
Changeux & Connes, Chapters 4-5 |
19 |
Churchland, Chapters 1-2 |
07 |
Changeux & Connes, Chapters 6-7 |
24 |
Churchland, Chapters 3-5 |
12 |
Calvin, Chapters 1-4 |
26 |
Churchland, Chapters 6-7 |
14 |
Calvin, Chapters 5-8 / Applied Analysis Due |
O. 01 |
Churchland, Chapters 8-10 |
19 |
Calvin, Chapters 9-11 |
03 |
Damasio, Chapters 1-4 |
21 |
Rosenberg, Chapters 1-4 |
08 |
Damasio, Chapters 5-7 |
26 |
Rosenberg, Chapters 5-8 |
10 |
Damasio, Chapters 8-11 / Theoretical Analysis Due |
28 |
Thanksgiving Holiday - No Classes |
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D. 03 |
Rosenberg, Chapters 9-13 / Exp. Analysis Due |
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12 |
Final Examination Period: 10:00 - 12:00 |
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