Cognitive Science 0202 - Philosophy of Mind

What is the mind? Are mental states behavioral dispositions? Or brain processes? Or functional or computational states? Or is there no such thing as the mind, but only the brain? How is the mind related to the body? How can a physical event in space cause a mental event of which we become aware? Consciousness: what is it and what is it doing there in an otherwise physical universe? Is knowledge of experience knowledge of something physical? Why is there a gap between the physical world and what we experience? How can physical beings such as we are or partly are develop things like intentions and beliefs? Stones can't have intentions. Why not? Emphasis is on the understanding of existing theories in the field and the development of students' own views through portfolio and notebook work. Two short (6 pages) papers, two exams (not unseen) and question sets on the reading. Prerequisite: At least one previous class in philosophy

Mind, Brain, and Information Independent Work Writing and Research