PH144-15 Mind and Reality
Introductory description
PH144 - Mind and Reality
Module aims
The aim of the module is to introduce students to some central issues in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and epistemology.
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.
Topics to be covered in the module include: (i) the nature of knowledge - can knowledge be conceptually analysed? (ii) Scepticism - is it possible to have knowledge of the external world? (iii) The nature of perceptual experience - is perceptual experience a relation to ordinary objects? (iv) Colour - is colour an objective feature of reality? (v) The mind-body problem - could consciousness be a brain process?
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- By the end of the module students should have an understanding of the central problems in epistemology, metaphysics, and mind discussed in the module, and should have an understanding of the central concepts that frame these problems.
- They should be able to clearly articulate the opposing positions in those debates, and be able to outline arguments in support of those different positions.
- They should have a good understanding of the key literature discussed, and able to analyse and critically evaluate the arguments for and against the positions defended in the key literature.
- They should be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in speech and writing.
- They should be able draw connections between the key ideas and arguments discussed in the module to other problems and debates in philosophy.
Indicative reading list
- Hume, David, 1758. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding section XII.1;
Russell, The Problems of Philosophy, ch1; Price, Perception, chs 1-2, - Gettier, ‘Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?’ Analysis 23 (6) 1963: 121-123.
- Descartes, Meditations, I; Stroud, The Significance of Philosophical Scepticism, ch.1
- Jackson, Epiphenomenal qualia. Philosophical Quarterly 32, 1982 :127-136.
- Papineau, Thinking about Consciousness, ch.1.
- Russell, ‘On Denoting’. Mind 14.56 (1905): 479–493; Quine, ‘On What There Is’. Review of Metaphysics 2 (5) 1948: 21-36.
- Wollheim, “Seeing-as, Seeing-in, and Pictorial Representation”, in Art and Its Objects, 2nd edition, 1980: 205-26; Walton, Mimesis as Make-Believe, ch1.
- Hume, Treatise, I.III.XI-XII; Strawson, ‘An Introduction to Logical Theory, ch.9; van Cleve, ‘Reliability, justification, and the problem of induction’. Midwest Studies in Philosophy 9 (1) 1984: 555-67.
- Ayer, Language, Truth and Logic, ch.4; Carnap, ‘Empiricism, semantics, and ontology’. Revue Internationale de Philosophie 4 (2) 1950: 20-40.’
Subject specific skills
TBC
Transferable skills
TBC
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 18 sessions of 1 hour (12%) |
Seminars | 8 sessions of 1 hour (5%) |
Private study | 124 hours (83%) |
Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group D5
Weighting | Study time | |
---|---|---|
Take Home Exam | 20% | |
1 x 72-hour take home exam comprising 2 x 500 word exercises submitted in term in which module is taught |
||
Online Examination | 80% | |
~Platforms - AEP
|
Feedback on assessment
Detailed written feedback will be provided on take home exam. An examiner’s report will be prepared
to provide feedback on the examination.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
-
UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
- Year 1 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
- Year 1 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
- Year 1 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
-
UPHA-V700 Undergraduate Philosophy
- Year 1 of V700 Philosophy
- Year 1 of V700 Philosophy
This module is Optional for:
- Year 1 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
-
UIPA-V5L8 Undergraduate Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
- Year 1 of V5L8 Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
- Year 1 of V5L8 Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
- Year 1 of UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
- Year 1 of UPHA-VQ52 Undergraduate Philosophy, Literature and Classics
-
UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Year 1 of V7MR Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite with Economics Major)
- Year 1 of V7MP Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite)
- Year 1 of V7MP Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite)
- Year 1 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
- Year 1 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
- Year 1 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
-
UPHA-V7MW Undergraduate Politics, Philosophy and Law
- Year 1 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law
- Year 1 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law