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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Undergraduate Course: Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe 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.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Outside students are welcome to take this course. There are no official pre-requisites, and the course will not presuppose material from previous philosophy courses. However, students should be aware that, as this is a second year course, having a background in philosophy is an advantage.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should usually have at least 1 introductory level Philosophy course at grade B or above for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 33, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 151 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1 essay (1500 words) and 1 exam at the end of the semester.
Coursework counts for 25%; exam for 75%.

The resit will occur during the April/May diet.
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (April/May Sem 1 resits only)2:00
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.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL https://www.ed.ac.uk/ppls/philosophy/current/undergraduate/handbooks
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Lecturers:
Dr Wolfgang Schwarz
KeywordsPhilosophy of mindPhilosophy of languageMind-body problem IntentionalitySense and reference
Contacts
Course organiserDr Wolfgang Schwarz
Tel:
Email: Wolfgang.Schwarz@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: Annmarie.Cowe@ed.ac.uk
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