PHIL 2039 - Philosophy of Mind
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHIL 2039 Course Philosophy of Mind Coordinating Unit Philosophy Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Prerequisites 12 units Level I Humanities/Social Sciences, including 3 units in Philosophy or PHIL 2030 Incompatible PHIL 2016 or PHIL 3016 Assessment 800 word short essay (20%), 1700 word essay (30%), 2500 word essay (50%) Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Jonathan Opie
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
- Introduce students to two central problems in the philosophy of mind: the nature of consciousness, and our capacity for mental representation.
- Develop an understanding of other topics in the philosophy of mind such as externalism, functionalism and our sense of self.
- Be aware of the main philosophical positions in philosophy of mind.
- Have experience in analyzing and critiquing written arguments.
- Show improvement in problem solving and critical reasoning skills.
- Be able to discuss and debate philosophical issues in a group setting.
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-6 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1-6 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3-6 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3-6 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-6 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-6 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Tutorial readings and reading lists will be made available on MyUni.Recommended Resources
The following are worth purchasing or borrowing:
- Cummins, R. (1991) Meaning and Mental Representation, Bradford Books.
- Revonsuo, A (2010) Consciousness: The Science of Subjectivity, Psychology Press.
Online Learning
Lecture notes will be made available on MyUni each week, and the lectures will be recorded. To prepare for tutorials, you are required to answer a set of tutorial questions. These will be made available on MyUni in the week preceding the tutorial. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures. There are two lectures each week, which can be attended in person or viewed on MyUni.
Tutorials. Tutorials are designed to help you understand the lecture material, but may touch on other topics. To prepare for tutorials, please answer the questions made available each week on MyUni.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
2 x 1 hour lecture per week
1 hour tutorial per week
3 hours revision per week
3 hours tutorial preparation per week
3 hours assessment work (essay and exam preparation)
Total per week 12 hoursLearning Activities Summary
Introduction: Marks of the Mental (1 Lecture)
Topic 1: Representation – A Primer (2 Lectures)Peirce's Triadic Analysis. Mental Representation.
Topic 2: How does the Mind Represent the World? (7 Lectures)Theories of Representation and Content Determination. Resemblance.Causation. Indicator Theories. Biological Role. Externalism.The Intentional Stance. Resemblance Revisited. Error and Explanation.
Topic 3: What is Consciousness, and How is it to be Explained? (11 Lectures)Consciousness and Qualia. Mind and Body. Representational Theories.Information Processing Theories. Multiple Drafts. Biological Naturalism.Mechanistic Explanation. Conscious Selves
Conclusion: Marks of the Mental Revisited (1 Lecture) -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Task Type Weight Essay 1 Summative 20% Essay 2 Summative 40% Essay 3 Summative 40% Tutorials Formative Unweighted Assessment Detail
Your assessment in Philosophy of Mind will involve one short essay, and two longer essays. The word limits below are lower and upper bounds, respectively.- Essay 1 (750-900 words). Choose one question, to be provided, on Topic 1.
- Essay 2 (1500-1800 words). Choose one question, to be provided, on Topic 2.
- Essay 3 (1500-1800 words). Choose one question, to be provided, on Topic 3.
Submission
Submit your essays by posting them on MyUni. Details of the submission process will be provided before the due date. Make sure you keep a backup copy of each essay that you submit, either as a computer file or a photocopy.
Each essay must satisfy the following requirements:- It must acknowledge any dependence, either direct or indirect, on source material.
- It must include a reference list of all material cited in the essay.
- It must not lie outside the specified word limits.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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