This course introduces students to a number of major issues in the contemporary philosophy of mind. It aims to familiarise students with the main positions and arguments within each topic, and to enable students to deploy these arguments for themselves.

16x1hr lectures, 4xhr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Philosophy and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ 65% 2000-word written piece

■ 35% 1000-word written piece

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 assessments, 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.  

This course aims to:

■ introduce students to a number of major issues in the contemporary Philosophy of Mind;

■  familiarise students with the main positions and arguments within each topic;

■  enable students to deploy these arguments for themselves.

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

■ Explain the basic categories and types of mental phenomena; 

■ Critically evaluate theories of the relation of mental phenomena to the physical world, including substance dualism, behaviourism, central state materialism and functionalism; 

■ Critically evaluate accounts of phenomenal content and subjectivity, accounts of representation, and theories on the status of psychological explanation

■ Develop their own arguments in response to these theories.

■ Apply the theories to concrete cases.