Postgraduate Course: The Ontology of Mind MSc (PHIL11074)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Philosophy |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
This course will examine issues to do with the nature of the mind, and in particular will look at the ontological commitments of our common-sense understanding of the mind, and whether they are met. We will look at whether scientific conceptions of the mind undermine our common-sense understanding. In order to do this we will examine the semantics of our mental talk and thought, causal and non-causal views of the mind, eliminitivism, the theory-theory and simulation theory debate, criticisms of functionalism, and recent 'agency' views of the mind.
Shared with UG course U04097 The Ontology of Mind
Venue: G.06, Dugald Stewart Building |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | 11:10 - 13:00 | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
1 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s). |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students:
- Understand the relevance of the history of debates about the nature of the mind to debates about the mind
- Be able to explain how understanding the semantics of our thought about the mind is relevant to understanding the nature of the mind.
- Be able to analyse arguments against the causal/functional theory of mind.
- Be able to present and criticise the central issues of the theory-theory/simulation theory debate.
- Will have improved their analytic philosophical skills
- Be able to present and defend a philosophical argument |
Assessment Information
| One 2,500 word essay |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Mr Tom Roberts
Tel:
Email: tom.roberts@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:33 am
|
University Homepage