Mind and Consciousness
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIL2006 | Philosophy | 2 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- PHIL2006
- School
- Philosophy
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
The philosophy of mind addresses philosophical questions about the mind and aspects of the mind: mental or psychological states and capacities. Mind and Consciousness will focus on a specific area (or areas) of the philosophy of mind, covering the themes of mind and consciousness. Which specific area (or areas) are in focus may vary from year to year. But, for example, Mind and Consciousness may focus on the philosophy of perception, and cover questions such as what is it to perceive the world? What is it to have a conscious experience in perceiving the world? In perceiving the world, does anything get between the perceiver and the world, or is perception immediate and direct? How does conscious perception lead to knowledge? Can perception itself be rational? Does perception present higher-level properties such as being a tree, or just lower-level ones such as having a certain size, and shape? How are we to distinguish between the senses? Can we see empty space? Can we hear silence? So the topics for this area of philosophy of mind may include: the nature of perception, the nature of perceptual consciousness, the directness or indirectness of perception, the perception-knowledge link, what properties or kinds perception can present, issues about the senses, and specific issues about vision and audition.
Target Students
Second year single honours and joint honours Philosophy students and exchange students. Also available to second year Liberal Arts students who have either done PHIL1012 or PHIL1013; or are doing PHIL1012 or PHIL1013 (co-requisite). Also available to single honours Philosophy and joint honours Music and Philosophy students in their final year taking 20 credits of Level 2 modules.
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 2000 word essay
- 50% Coursework 2: 2000 word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aim of this module is to consider and evaluate some key debates in one specific area (or areas) of the philosophy of mind that covers the themes of mind and consciousness, e.g., the philosophy of perception. By the end of the module students should have an advanced understanding of, be informed about, and be in a position to critically evaluate various positions within the specific area of the philosophy of mind in question, e.g., the philosophy of perception.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding.
By the end of this module you should be able to understand the main positions in a specific area of philosophy of mind.
Intellectual skills.
By the end of this module you should be able to analyse and evaluate rival views within the area.
Transferable skills.
By the end of this module you should be able to express views on abstract issues clearly and concisely in writing.