Philosophy of Mind

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to philosophical questions about the mind. We will begin with the traditional mind-body problem: What is the mind? Is it an immaterial thing (a “soul”), or can it be reduced to something physical, such as the brain? How can mind and body causally interact? How can we know about the minds of others? Asking these questions will lead us to more specific topics, including the nature of consciousness, the possibility of artificial intelligence, and the technological enhancement of human minds. Counts as an elective for the Philosophy major and minor. Satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives requirement. Counts as an elective in the Neuroscience interdisciplinary minor.