Philosophy 255
Philosophy of Mind
Winter, 2000
Professor: Paul Thagard
Office hours (HH368): Monday, 1-2; Friday, 12-1; and by appointment.
Email: pthagard@watarts. Phone: extension 3594.
Web page: http://cogsci.uwaterloo.ca/courses/phil255.html
Time: TR, 1-2:30, ML 354.
Textbooks: George Graham, Philosophy of Mind, second edition. Jonathan Shear, ed., Explaining Consciousness.
Assignments: Marks will be based on:
There will be extensive discussion as well as lectures. Students should do the assigned readings before the relevant class. Each student is asked to come to class with one question prepared.
Description: This course is concerned with fundamental questions
concerning the nature of mind, including life after death, the existence
of other minds, the relation of mind and brain, and the nature of consciousness.
No prerequisites.
Reading:
| Week | Dates | Graham, chapter | Shear, pages |
| 1 | Jan. 4-6 | 1-2 | |
| 2 | Jan. 11-13 | 3-4 | |
| 3 | Jan. 18-20 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | Jan. 25-27 | 7-8 | |
| 5 | Feb. 1-3 | 8-9 | |
| 6 | Feb. 8-10 | 10-11 | |
| 7 | Feb. 15-17 | REVIEW, EXAM | |
| 8 | Feb. 29 - Mar. 2 | 1-44 | |
| 9 | Mar. 7-9 | 45-96 | |
| 10 | Mar. 14-16 | 237-268 | |
| 11 | Mar. 21-23 | 269-304 | |
| 12 | Mar. 28-30 | ESSAY DUE | 337-378 |
| 13 | Apr. 4 | 379-422 |
Dictionary of Philosophy of Mind
Various cognitive science resources
Week 1: Introduction; Death and identity
Week 2: Other minds; Animal beliefs
Week 3: Computer minds; The mind of God
Week 4: Rational action. Mind and brain.
Week 5: Mind and brain; Persons
Week 8, The hard problem of consciousness
Week 9, Deflating the hard problem
Week 10, Consciousness and brain processes
Week 11, Panpsychism and emergence
Week 12, Damasio and ethical implications
From the Faculty of Arts:
All students registered in the courses of the Faculty of Arts are expected to know what constitutes an academic offense, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their academic actions. When the commission of an offense is established, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accord with Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline). For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the summary of Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline) which is supplied in the Undergraduate Calendar (p.1:11). If you need help in learning how to avoid offenses such as plagiarism, cheating, and double submission, or if you need clarification of aspects of the discipline policy, ask your course instructor for guidance. Other resources regarding the discipline policy are your academic advisor and the Undergraduate Associate Dean.
This page updated March 29, 2000