MINDS, BRAINS, AND MACHINES: CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
PHI3MBM
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
What is the mind and what is it made of? Can we say that mind and brain are the same thing? Are mental states, like thoughts and feelings, nothing more than brain states? Can machines be conscious? Do they have a mind? Do they think? Is language necessary for thinking? These and other questions will be the focus of this subject, which introduces students to contemporary philosophy of mind and to the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary cognitive science, psychology and linguistics.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: PHI2MBM
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Identify the underlying issues in a complex problem or controversial debate, analyse their structure and employ appropriate reasoning strategies designed to resolve the problem.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
02. Identify, formulate, analyse and judge the success of standard form and text-based arguments, using appropriate methods of analysis and critical reasoning.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
03. Locate, review, analyse and synthesise unfamiliar ideas and lines of argument with an open mind and willingness to question and revise assumptions and change one's own views when appropriate.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
04. Write a carefully constructed essay in support of a philosophical claim.
- Activities:
- Essay writing, modelling, feedback on essay.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)
Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath
Class requirements
SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay, 2000 words | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Essay, 2000 words | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |