Undergraduate Course: Theories of Mind (Philosophy Hons) (PHIL10024)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines selected conceptual and theoretical issues in the Philosophy of Mind, particularly with respect to computationalism and physicalism. |
| Course description |
What is a mind, what are the essential characteristics distinguishing mental from non-mental systems? Two key features traditionally offered in response to this question are (1) representational content: mental states can be about external objects and states of affairs, they can represent and bear content or meaning; (2) conscious experience: only minds are consciously aware and have subjective, qualitative experiences, roughly, there is something it is like to be a mind. A central aim of the course will be to examine the extent to which these two features can be captured or explained by computational and/or physicalist methods, and to explore some of the conceptual issues basic to Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence as theoretical approaches to the mind.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
Students are asked to read, critically assess and discuss some of the most important texts in the philosophy of mind. Students will acquire the necessary conceptual resources to analyze and criticize different theoretical positions in this area. Students are encouraged to develop their critical and analytic skills in individual research.
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paul Schweizer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2704
Email: Joshua.Stapp@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Susan Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: |
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