Instructor for Vorlesung: Prof. Hong Yu Wong (hong-yu.wong@uni-tuebingen.de)
Instructor for Proseminar: Dr. Chiara Brozzo (chiara.brozzo@gmail.com)
Vorlesung: Thursdays, 14-16; Neue Aula, Hörsaal 1
Proseminar: Mondays, 12-14; Room X, Alte Burse
These lectures and the accompanying Proseminar will provide an introduction to the philosophy of mind. Topics covered include: what the mind is, whether there is a mark of the mental (such as consciousness or intentionality), the mind-body problem, and key mental faculties, such as perception.
It is possible to take the Vorlesung without taking the Proseminar (or vice versa), but you are strongly advised to take both.
ILIAS password: mind
Assessment for the Proseminar:
Attendance is required for all students taking the class for credit.
· For 6 credits, 2 essays of 3000 words each. 1st essay due July 17; 2nd essay due October 8, 2018.
· For 9 credits, 1 essay of 3000 words and a 2nd essay of 5000 words. Same due dates as above.
Classes and readings [subject to change; *-ed items are required reading]
Part I: Mindedness
April 23
1. Introductory session
April 30
2. The Self and Subjecthood
*Dennett, D. “Where am I?”
*Williams 1970 “The Self and the Future” The Philosophical Review, Vol. 79, No. 2., pp. 161-180
May 7
3. Is there a mark of the mental? I: Consciousness
*Nagel, T. (1974) “What is it like to be a Bat?”
Chalmers, D. (1995) ‘Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness’, JCS
June 11
4. Is there a mark of the mental? II: Intentionality
* Crane, T. (2001) Elements of Mind, chapter 1 “Mind”
Crane, T. (1998) “Intentionality as the mark of the mental” in Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of Mind, ed. Anthony O’Hear (1998)
For background, read https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/intentionality/
Part II: the Mind-Body Problem
June 18
5. The mind-body problem I: Cartesian Dualism
*Descartes Meditations 2 and 6
Wong, H.Y. (2006) “Cartesian Psychophysics” in Van Inwagen and Zimmerman (eds.) Persons
For background, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dualism/
June 25
6. The mind-body problem II: Behaviorism and Eliminativism
*Ryle 1949 The Concept of Mind (Selections)
*Churchland, P., 1981. “Eliminative Materialism and Propositional Attitudes”, Journal of Philosophy 78: 67–90.
For background, read https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/behaviorism/
http://web.mit.edu/abyrne/www/behaviourism.html
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/materialism-eliminative/
July 2
7. The mind-body problem III: Identity theories
*Lewis, D. 1966. ‘An Argument for the Identity Theory’, Journal of Philosophy 63: 17-25.
Armstrong, D.M. 1977. ‘The Causal Theory of Mind’.
July 9
8. The mind-body problem IV: Functionalism
*Block 1980 “Troubles With Functionalism”.
Block 1980 “What is Functionalism?”
For background, read https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/functionalism/
***July 17 – First essay due***
July 16
9. Objections to Physicalism
*Kripke, S. 1979 Naming and Necessity (Selections)
Part III: Mental faculties
July 23
10. Perception and Mental Content
*Putnam, H., 1975. “The Meaning of ‘Meaning’”.
Burge, T., 1979. “Individualism and the Mental”, Midwest Studies in Philosophy, 4: 73–121.
For background, read https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/perception-problem/
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/content-externalism/
*** October 15 – Second essay due***