Undergraduate Course: The Ontology of Mind (PHIL10076)
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 |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| 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. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
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.
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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
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
Class presentation 10%
1000 word essay 30%
2500 word essay 60%
Visiting Student Variant Assessment
Class presentation 10%
1000 word essay 30%
2500 word essay 60% |
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 | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Tom Roberts
Tel:
Email: tom.roberts@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Susan Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: sue.richards@ed.ac.uk |
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