PH998-30 Topics in Philosophy of Mind and Language
Introductory description
PH998 Topics in Philosophy of Mind and Language
Module aims
This module will address some central topics in the Philosophy of Mind and Language. The main aim is to engage in detail with some arguments that have played a central role in contemporary discussions. Possible topics include: the role of sense in accounting for meaning and understanding; truth-conditional accounts of meaning and understanding; propositional attitude reports and their connection with propositional attitudes; the nature of linguistic understanding; anti-individualism in the philosophy of mind; the nature of perceptual experience.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Week 1. Frege on sense and reference.
Week 2. Putnam on anti-individualism about language.
Week 3. Burge on anti-individualism about mind.
Week 4. Knowledge as a state of mind.
Week 5. Nagel on What it is like.
Week 7. Critical discussions of talk of what it is like.
Week 8. Naïve Realism.
Week 9. Naïve Realism and disjunctivism.
Week 10. Disjunctivism, illusion, and hallucination
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- By the end of the module the student should have advanced knowledge and understanding of some current key issues that arise in the areas of philosophy of mind and philosophy of language.
- By the end of the module the student should be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of some complex texts in the areas of the philosophy of mind and language covered in the module.
- By the end of the module students should be able to interpret, and evaluate independently, texts and arguments in the areas of the philosophy of mind and language covered in the module. By the end of the module students should be able to present views and arguments and develop original critical assessments of those arguments orally and in writing.
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Subject specific skills
i) The ability to understand philosophical issues and arguments
(ii) The ability to critically engage with philosophical ideas and arguments
(iii) The ability to articulate philosophical issues and arguments
(iv) The ability to read philosophical texts, including an ability to understand and explain technical philosophical vocabulary from these historical texts, and debates about interpretation of certain key terms.
Transferable skills
(i) The ability to communicate information (verbally and in written form) to people both expert and non-expert in the field.
(ii) The ability to analyse, evaluate, critique and apply complex information gathered from reading, reflection, reasoning or communication.
(iii) The ability to effectively manage schedules and deadlines
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
| Private study | 282 hours (94%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| 7500 word essay | 100% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Feedback on essays will be provided on the coversheet for the essay, addressing standard areas
of evaluation and individual content.
Courses
This module is Core for:
-
TPHA-V7PM Postgraduate Taught Philosophy
- Year 1 of V7PM Philosophy
- Year 2 of V7PM Philosophy
This module is Option list A for:
-
TPHA-V7PN Postgraduate Taught Philosophy and the Arts
- Year 1 of V7PN Philosophy and the Arts
- Year 2 of V7PN Philosophy and the Arts