MINDS, BRAINS, AND MACHINES: CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

PHI3MBM

2020

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: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Exchange Students: No

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Any first year level subject (in any discipline)

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: PHI2MBM

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing

COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective

DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Adaptability and Self-Management

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Ethical and Social Responsibility

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Leadership and Teamwork

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.

02. Identify, formulate, analyse and judge the success of standard form and text-based arguments, using appropriate methods of analysis and critical reasoning.

03. Work collaboratively to assess the merits of philosophical arguments taking into account the different views and starting points of group members.

04. Write a carefully constructed essay in support of a philosophical claim.

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Yuri Cath

Class requirements

Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.

TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 hour tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	Category	Contribution	Hurdle	%	ILO*
Essay, 1,800 words	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	40	SILO1, SILO2, SILO4
Essay, 2000 words	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	50	SILO1, SILO2, SILO4
Online forum contributions 600 words (in total)	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	10	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4