The University of South Florida

PHI 4320 Fall 2000 Ref #88227 Sec 001

TR 3:30-4:45 CPR 251

Instructor: Dr. Peggy DesAutels

Phone: 974-3312 E-mail: pdesaute@chuma1.cas.usf.edu

Office: FAO 201A Office Hours: Wednesdays 2pm-4pm or by appt.

A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind: Readings with Commentary, Peter A. Morton, editor, Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 1997.

We will address the following questions (among others): What is mind? What is the relationship of mind to brain? How do we decide what has a mind? Is there a human soul that leaves the body after death? Can computers think? What is the relationship of consciousness to mind? We will take a historical approach beginning with Plato and ending with current philosophers of mind. There will be two open-book, open-note typed take-home essay exams in this course and one paper. Class will be both lecture and discussion. Your preparation, attendance and contributions will be important to the success and quality of the class.

Wk 1 Aug 29-31 Introduction

Wk 2 Sept 5-7 Plato: The Soul and the Form (p. 3)

Plato: Selections from The Phaedo (p. 15)

Wk 3 Sept 12-14 Aristotle: Naturalizing the Soul (p. 27)

Aristotle: Selections from On the Soul and Sense and Sensibilia

Wk 4 Sept 19-21 The Scientific Revolution (p. 43)

Galileo: Selections from The Assayer

Descartes: Selections from The World or Treatise on Light

Descartes: Selections from Meditations on First Philosophy

Wk 5 Sept 26-28 Descartes: Knowledge of Mind and Matter (p. 63)

Rene Descartes: Selections from Meditations on First Philosophy

Wk 6 Oct 3-5 Descartes’ Dualism (p. 89)

Antoine Arnauld: Objections to Descartes’ Meditations

Rene Descartes: Reply to Antoine Arnauld

Rene Descartes: Selections from Principles of Philosophy

Wk 7 Oct 10-12 Materialism and Idealism (p. 117)

Oct 12: Take-Home Midterm Exam distributed

Wk 8 Oct 17-19 Oct 17: In-Class viewing of Bladerunner

Oct 19: MIDTERM EXAM due 3:30 pm CPR 251

In-Class discussion of Bladerunner

Wk 9 Oct 24-26 Logical Behaviorism (p. 143)

Wk 10 Oct 31-Nov 2 The Mind-Brain Identity Theory (p. 205)

David M. Armstrong: "The Nature of Mind"

J.J.C. Smart: "Sensations and Brain Processes"

Wk 11 Nov 7-9 Artificial Intelligence (p. 251)

Wk 12 Nov 14-16 Turing Machine handout

John Searle: "Minds, Brains and Programs"

Wk 13 Nov 21 Functionalism (p. 297)

Nov 23: No Class - Thanksgiving Holiday

Wk 14 Nov 28-30 Consciousness (p. 369)

David Chalmers handout

Wk 15 Dec 5-7 Dec 5: No Class - Work on papers

Dec 7: Papers due 3:30pm CPR 251

Review

Take-Home Final Exam distributed

Final Exam Wk Dec 14: FINAL EXAM due 3:30pm FAO 201A

GRADING: 60% Midterm Exam and Final Exam

30% Paper

10% Attendance/Class participation/Evidence of having done the

There is one paper required for this course. The assigned topic for the paper is: Can computers have minds? This paper should be approximately six to seven pages in length (1500-1750 words). You should refer to the readings and should present the best argument for your view along with the best argument against your view. The paper should include a defense against the best opposing argument. Papers should be typed and should contain no spelling or grammar mistakes. At the top the paper you should include: your name, title of the class, date, title of the paper, and word count. It is highly recommended that you use a word processor, so that you can take advantage of spelling and grammar checkers.

1. Students may quote words, phrases, or sentences provided the quoted material is placed within quotation marks (and, of course, the source is cited in a footnote).

2. Students may borrow an idea provided they put it in their own words and cite the authority from whom they got the idea. They must also acknowledge borrowed facts, except when these are commonplace--to be found in many sources. (When in doubt, cite the source.)

3. Students who borrow ideas without footnotes or who use the words of another person without quotation marks are guilty of plagiarism.

4. Students who paraphrase improperly are likewise guilty of plagiarism, whether or not they cite their source.

5. Students who are guilty of plagiarism or any other type of academic dishonesty will receive an "F" for the class.

Students are expected to attend all class sessions and to be fully prepared for each class. Unexcused absences from more than three hours of class will result in a lowering of the student's final grade. Being late to class counts as one hour of unexcused absence from class. The more class hours missed, the lower the final grade. Excused absences are those that are arranged with the professor as "excused" ahead of time or those for which a student brings medical documentation.