Undergraduate Course: Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The aim of this course is to introduce students to some of the problems and concepts in philosophy of mind and philosophy of language that are central to philosophy. By examining in detail some of the key arguments and texts in philosophy of mind and language it will develop students' ability to understand and be critical of philosophical argument. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 1 introductory level Philosophy course at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 09:00 - 09:50, Zone: Central. David Hume Tower, Lecture Theatre B |
| Additional information |
1 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s). |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Mind, Matter and Language | 2:00 | | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Mind, Matter and Language | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
Understand the philosophical positions of dualism, behaviourism, identity theory, intentional realism, instrumentalism and eliminatavism.
Understand the so-called 'hard problem' of consciousness and be able to critically examine the crucial thought experiments designed to support the claims regarding its existence.
Understand the nature of the debate concerning folk psychology and our grip on other agents' mental states.
Become familiar with the central concepts in the theory of meaning.
Be able to explain and argue for the distinction between the sense and reference of a linguistic expression.
Know the difference between the descriptive and causal theory of names and be able to explain the significance of the concept of rigid designation.
Have some appreciation of the significance of these issues for other areas of philosophy.
For students taking this as their only philosophy course, be unculcated with an understanding of the nature of philosophy and an appreciation of the value of
characteristically philosophical ways of thinking. |
Assessment Information
1 essay (1500 words) and 1 exam at the end of the semester.
Coursework counts for 25%; exam for 75%. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Philosophy of mindPhilosophy of languageMind-body problem IntentionalitySense and reference |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tillman Vierkant
Tel: (0131 6)51 3748
Email: T.Vierkant@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Susan Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: sue.richards@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:38 am
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