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 |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Philosophy |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk |
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| Course description |
What is a mind? How does it relate to a person's brain? How does it relate to their body and to the external world? Are mental states identical to physical states? Can the mental be reduced to the physical? Does thinking require a language-like code? The first half of the course will survey and discuss the most important answers offered to these questions. Students will acquire the necessary conceptual resources to analyze and criticize different theoretical positions concerning each of these issues.
The second part of the course focuses on the two mind-body problems. The first concerns mental causation. We tend to behave in such a way that our desires are fulfilled if our beliefs are true. But how can mental states cause our body to move? The second part concerns consciousness. If our best physical sciences are right, then our world is entirely composed of physical entities and physical properties. But how do we place consciousness in such a world?
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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. |
| Prospectus website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 25 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 15:50, Zone: Central. Room 3.D01, Forrest Hill. |
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| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: 0 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 10 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 15:50, Zone: Central. Room 3.D01, Forrest Hill. |
Summary of Intended 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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Assessment Information
| Assessment will be by 2-hour examination in the June diet. Senior Honours students may opt to write a long essay (approximately 5000 words) in lieu of the final exam. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Prof Theodore Scaltsas
Tel: (0131 6)50 3649
Email: Scaltsas@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Susan Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: sue.richards@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:32 am
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