PHI 4320: Philosophy of Mind

Mon. & Wed. 9:30–10:45

Spring 2004

Instructor: Professor Daniel Weiskopf

Office: FAO 203

Office hours: Wed. 11am–1pm (or by appointment)

Phone: 813–974–6915

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. 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? How does conscious experience arise from unconscious matter? How does language shape thought? How has evolution shaped the mind? Do people from different cultures think differently? What is the place of emotion in cognition?

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. Emphasis will be placed on learning to think philosophically about the subjects covered in the course, not merely memorizing information.

Prerequisites:

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

Readings:

Course readings will be made available in a packet from Pro-Copy (5219 E. Fowler Ave.). Some articles will be on electronic reserve; these can be accessed from the main USF library webpage (http://www.lib.usf.edu). You are expected to read all assigned material before class meetings. Many of the readings for this course are challenging. Don’t let this fact intimidate you. Lectures and discussions are designed to clarify and supplement the readings, but presuppose that you have read them at least once. Guidelines for how to approach reading philosophy papers can be found on the course web page. You are strongly urged to use these resources.

Assignments:

Short paper (2-3 pp) 10%

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

Midterm examination 20%

Final examination 20%

The grading scale will employ pluses and minuses. Late assignments will not be accepted without prior permission from the instructor. Note: Having a lot of work due in other courses is not a sufficient reason to hand in an assignment late. Assignment dates are announced in advance to help you plan your schedule. In case of illness, family medical emergency, or other major extenuating circumstances, 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 and other philosophical resources will also be available on the course web page.

Attendance:

Attendance of lectures 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 in advance. We will meet for the entire scheduled time unless otherwise noted, so plan to show up and begin on time. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or be in silent mode during class.

Special accommodations:

If you require special accommodations for lectures or taking examinations, please contact the course instructor within the first week of class. Note that you must provide documentation of your needs from the Office of Student Disability Services. All efforts will be made to accommodate students with special needs.

Instructor availability:

Office hours are scheduled for your convenience. If you cannot make the scheduled office hours, feel free either to email your question or comment, or to schedule a meeting at another time. Email is the preferred means of getting in touch with me. I will try to respond to email within 24 hours; however, immediate replies aren’t guaranteed.

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 with a grade of zero. More severe penalties may be determined by the instructor and the University’s academic disciplinary board as the case demands. Similar penalties 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. The full text of the code is available at: http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0304/ADADAP.HTM.

Schedule of Readings:

“CP” = Course webpage

1/5	Introductory lecture
1/7	Dualism I Descartes, Selections
1/12	Dualism II Huxley, On the hypothesis that animals are automata (CP)
1/14	Behaviorism Skinner, excerpt from Science and Human Behavior
1/19	** No class; MLK Jr. Day **
1/21	Against Behaviorism Chomsky, Review of Skinner (CP) ** Short paper due **
1/26	Mind-Brain Identity Smart, Sensations and brain processes
1/28	Functionalism I Armstrong, The nature of mind
2/2	Functionalism II Lewis, Mad pain and Martian pain
2/4	Mind as Computer I Turing, Computing machinery and intelligence
2/9	Mind as Computer II Block, The mind as the software of the brain (CP)
2/11	The Language of Thought Fodor, Mental representation: An introduction ** First paper due **
2/16	Against Computationalism Searle, Minds, brains, and programs
2/18	No readings; Catch-up and review
2/23	** Midterm examination **
2/25	Robotics I Dennett, Cognitive wheels
3/1	Robotics II Brooks, Intelligence without representation
3/3	The Self I Nagel, Brain bisection and the unity of consciousness
3/8-3/10	** No class; Spring break **
3/15	The Self II Clark & Chalmers, The extended mind
3/17	Consciousness I Block, Troubles with functionalism
3/22	Consciousness II Jackson, Epiphenomenal qualia; Churchland, Response to Jackson
3/24	Consciousness III Lycan, Consciousness as internal monitoring
3/29	Language and Thought I Jackendoff, Language acquisition in unusual circumstances I & II
3/31	Language and Thought II Whorf, Science and linguistics
4/5	Language and Thought III Bloom, Words and concepts
4/7	Evolution and Thought Cosmides and Tooby, Evolutionary psychology: A primer (CP)
4/12	Culture and Thought No readings; lecture on culture and cognition ** Second paper due **
4/14	Emotion I Solomon, On emotions as judgments
4/19	Emotion II Griffiths, Modularity and the psychoevolutionary theory of emotion
4/21	Course review and wrap-up