Philosophy of Mind

Catalog description

This course will teach students to become more rigorous, careful thinkers by exploring questions about the nature of mind, questions which are especially significant in light of advancements in psychology, psychiatry, neurology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. The main focus of the course will be the "mind-body problem": can the existence of minds and mental states be reconciled with a thoroughly materialistic or physical view of the world? A second, closely connected focus will be: can mental states be implemented on a computer? With these foundational questions as background, students will further hone their argumentative skills on a variety of contemporary philosophical debates, including the nature and function of consciousness, whether animals have minds or consciousness, how can one know the contents of another person's mind or of one's own mind, and the nature of desire, emotion, and perception.