PHI 4320-001: Philosophy of Mind

Tu. & Th. 2:00-3:15

Fall 2003

Instructor: Daniel Weiskopf

Office: FAO 203

Office hours: Th. 10am-1pm (or by appointment)

Phone: 813-974-9935

Email: weiskopf@luna.cas.usf.edu

Course web page: http://luna.cas.usf.edu/~weiskopf/philmind/

Course description:

In this course we will investigate some classic and contemporary problems about minds, brains, and machines. We will consider how both philosophers and cognitive scientists have attempted to address these problems. Among other things, we will ask: Is the mind anything more than the brain? Could minds be digital computers? How can we build autonomous intelligent robots? Are we really unified selves? Can we extend our minds prosthetically? How does conscious experience arise from unconscious matter? Do we think in pictures or words? How does language shape thought? Do people from different cultures think differently?

Course objectives:

The goal of the course is to acquaint students with several core theories in the philosophy of mind, as well as the techniques of philosophical analysis and argumentation. Students will be expected to be familiar with the contents of the readings and lectures, and able to cogently explain and critique them in writing.

Prerequisites:

None, although some background in philosophy or cognitive science would be helpful.

Readings:

Course readings will be made available in a packet available from Pro-Copy (5219 E. Fowler Ave.), and on Electronic Reserve. You are expected to read all assigned material before class meetings. Lectures are designed to clarify and supplement the readings, but presuppose that you have read them at least once.

Assignments:

Two short papers (3-5pp) 50% (25% each)

Midterm examination 20%

Final examination 20%

Two response papers (~1-2pp) 10% (5% each)

Late assignments will not be accepted without prior permission from the instructor. In case of illness or family medical emergency, arrangements can be made to reschedule papers or exams. These arrangements must be made in advance, where possible.

Details on papers and exams will be given out during the semester. A guide to writing philosophy papers will also be available on the course web page.

Attendance:

Attendance of lectures and discussion sections is mandatory. Sale of recordings or transcripts of lectures is not permitted. If you need to miss class for religious observances, you must notify the instructor by the second class meeting.

Academic integrity:

Plagiarism and other violations of the University’s code of academic integrity will not be tolerated. The minimum penalty for plagiarism is failure of the assignment. More severe penalties may be determined by the instructor and the University’s academic disciplinary board as the case demands. Similar penalties may apply to other violations of academic integrity. If you are not certain what constitutes a violation of the code of academic integrity, please consult the instructor.

Schedule of Readings:

8/26	Introductory lecture
8/28	Dualism Descartes, Selections
9/2	Early Materialism I Hobbes, Selections
9/4	Early Materialism II Huxley, On the hypothesis that animals are automata
9/9	Behaviorism Skinner, excerpt from Science and Human Behavior
9/11	Mind-Brain Identity Place, Is consciousness a brain process?
9/16	Functionalism I Armstrong, The nature of mind
9/18	Functionalism II Fodor, The mind-body problem
9/23	Mind as Computer I Turing, Computing machinery and intelligence
9/25	Turing continued ** First paper due **
9/30	Mind as Computer II Searle, Minds, brains, and programs
10/2	Searle continued
10/7	Review and catch-up; no readings
10/9	** Midterm examination **
10/14	Robotics I Dennett, Where am I?
10/16	Robotics II Brooks, Intelligence without representation
10/21	Self and Action I Nagel, Brain bisection and the unity of consciousness
10/23	Self and Action II Simons & Levin, Change blindness
10/28	Self and Action III Clark & Chalmers, The extended mind
10/30	Consciousness I Searle, Breaking the hold: Silicon brains, conscious robots, and other minds
11/4	Consciousness II Jackson, Epiphenomenal qualia; Churchland, Response to Jackson
11/6	Mental Imagery I Dennett, The nature of images and the introspective trap
11/11	Mental Imagery II Kosslyn, Goodbye homunculus and Stalking the mental image
11/13	Mental Imagery III Pylyshyn, The return of the mental image
11/18	Language and Thought I Jackendoff, Language acquisition in unusual circumstances I & II ** Second paper due **
11/20	Language and Thought II Whorf, Science and linguistics
11/25	Language and Thought III Bloom, Words and concepts
11/27	** Thanksgiving holiday **
12/2	Culture and Thought No readings; lecture on culture and cognition
12/4	Course review and wrap-up