Postgraduate taught 

Philosophy (Conversion) MSc

Philosophy Of Mind PHIL5078

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course discusses a number of major issues and positions in the contemporary philosophy of mind. Topics include the relation between the mental and physical, subjectivity, intentionality and mental causation and explanation.

Timetable

2 lectures per week for 9 weeks, plus 4 tutorials. The course may not run every year. Options running this year are available on MyCampus.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Two essays, equally weighted, each with a word limit of 2500 words.

Course Aims

The 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.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ Identify the basic categories and types of mental phenomena;

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

■ Explain phenomenal content and subjectivity;

■ Analyse the problem of representation or 'aboutness';

■ Assess the status of psychological explanation.

 

Assessment for this course is at Masters Level.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.