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This intermediate level module aims to introduce students to a range of problems, positions, and arguments in the philosophy of mind - the philosophical study of mental phenomena and their relation to the rest of reality. The first half of term (weeks 1-5) will focus on the mind-body problem - in particular the Problem of Consciousness. The theme for the second half of term (weeks 6-10) will be Self and Other - Where am I? Where is my mind? Can I know the minds of others? Weekly live online lectures will be accompanied by in-person seminars.

Provisional syllabus and readings:

(1) What is the mind?

* Rorty, Richard 1979 Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature Ch 1 ‘The Invention of the Mind’

(2) Mind-brain identity

* Smart, J.J.C 1959 ‘Sensations and brain processes’ Philosophical Review

(3) Consciousness I

* Nagel, Thomas 1974 ‘What is it like to be a bat?’ Philosophical Review

(4) Consciousness II

* Jackson, F. 1982. ‘Epiphenomenal Qualia’ The Philosophical Quarterly 32: 127-136

(5) Consciousness III

* Montague, Michelle 2017 ‘What Kind of Awareness is Awareness of Awareness?’ Grazer Philosophische Studien

(6) Where am I?

* Dennett, Daniel 1978 ‘Where am I?’ in his Brainstorms

(7) The Extended Mind

* Clark, Andy and David Chalmers 1998 ‘The Extended Mind’ Analysis

(8) The Extended Self

* Olson 2011 ‘The Extended Self’ Minds and Machines

(9) Other Minds I

* Duddington, Nathalie 1919 ‘Our Knowledge of Other Minds’ Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society

(10) Other Minds II

* Kripke, Saul 1982 Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language Postscript

Philosophy Area A