Course Catalogue

Consciousness: Brains, Artificial Intelligence, and Subjective Experience PHIL4067

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

One of the great remaining mysteries, and maybe the most intractable, is consciousness: that intimately known but often indescribable qualitative character of experience: what it's like to see red, or feel pain, etc. In this course, we will examine the problem of consciousness and various contemporary scientific and philosophical theories of consciousness. We will end by asking about consciousness in animals and machines, and about the evolution of consciousness. 

Timetable

16x1hr lectures and 4x1hr seminars as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Philosophy and may not run every year. 

Requirements of Entry

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Philosophy, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay 1 (2,000 words) - 40%

■ Essay 2 (3000 words) - 60%

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to contemporary interdisciplinary study of consciousness

■ Examine key theories about the nature of phenomenal character

■ Offer students the opportunity to further develop skills as reading difficult and abstract texts and arguments

■ Provide students with  the opportunity to expand their reading and critical skills to other, less familiar disciplines

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

■ Articulate the central philosophical and scientific problems of consciousness

■ Critically evaluate prominent positions regarding consciousness in machines and non-human animals

■ Develop and defend a philosophical position related to the current debate on consciousness

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions