Philosophy of Mind

The module will explore a range of topics in the philosophy of mind, such as the nature of consciousness and thought, the nature of human action and the problem of determinism, the relation between mind (or mental phenomena) and body (or physical phenomena), and the possibility of artificial intelligence. You will gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between philosophical research in these areas and research across a broad range of scientific disciplines, such as neuroscience, life sciences, medicine and computing.

By comparing the work of thinkers as diverse as Dennett, Davidson, Putnam, the Churchlands, Fodor, Ryle, Wittgenstein and Heidegger, you will encounter and critically evaluate the cutting edge of modern thinking about the mind, and the issues that must be resolved before embarking on any scientific exploration of the mind.

Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.

"The material was very engaging and well structured, and flowed naturally from one subject to another."

"This is an awesome module - totally different from anything I have done at university up until now and it is definitely teaching me to think more critically about myself, my mind, the way I learn and several other aspects of every day life. The overall structure of an hour of covering new material followed by an hour of discussion is excellent."

"Very interesting material with a highly engaging lecture structure."

"The module is taught in a very refreshing way, with the scope for discussion. I really enjoy the lectures and the material is introduced in an accessible and engaging manner."