Study Questions: Ghosts, Minds, Behaviorism, and Identity Theory
There is no class in Philosophy of Mind on during the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8. Instead, we will do these outside of class assignments:
Ghosts and Behaviorism: Reconstruct and explain Ryle’s strongest set of reasons for concluding that there is nothing “internal” to the mind and that the mental is best explained in terms of dispositions to behave. Your essay should be at least 300 words. Put it into your Google Doc for the class, at the top, with the title: Ghosts and Behaviorism. It is due by 11:59pm, Friday, Feb. 5.
Your primary resources should be the assigned excerpt from Gilbert Ryle's The Concept of Mind, pages 11-24 in SacCT Readings Folder, and Professor McCormick's lecture notes "Behaviorist Accounts of Mind" in the Behaviorism Folder in SacCT.
You can use other sources, but you must cite them and follow academic standards of reference, see Writing Guidelines.
Mind-Brain Identity: What are the most compelling reasons in favor of identity theory as conceived of by Place and Smart? What objection voiced by Putnam has become the standard criticism of their position? How substantial is the objection? Your essay should be at least 300 words. Put it into your Google Doc for the class, at the top, with the title: Mind-Brain Identity. It is due by 11:59pm, Friday, Feb. 12.
Your primary resources should be the assigned readings:
- Putnam, H.: Psychological Predicates
- U.T. Place: "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?"
- J.C.C. Smart: "Identity Theory" from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
And Professor McCormick's lecture notes "Mind Brain Identity Theories" in the Identity Theory folder in SacCT.
You can use other sources, but you must cite them and follow academic standards of reference, see Writing Guidelines.
Kinds of Identity: What are type-type and token-token identity theories of mind? What is there to recommend each, what are the problems with each? Your essay should be at least 300 words. Put it into your Google Doc for the class, at the top, with the title: Kinds of Identity. It is due by 11:59pm, Friday, Feb. 12.
Your primary resources should be the assigned readings:
- Putnam, H.: Psychological Predicates
- U.T. Place: "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?"
- J.C.C. Smart: "Identity Theory" from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
And Professor McCormick's lecture notes "Mind Brain Identity Theories" in the Identity Theory folder in SacCT.
You can use other sources, but you must cite them and follow academic standards of reference, see Writing Guidelines.