Philosophy 340                                                                                                              W. Lycan
Spring, 2008

PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

Text

D.M. Rosenthal (ed.), The Nature of Mind (Oxford University Press).

         The course handouts and other postings will be on  Blackboard.


Lecturer's office hours

Wednesdays, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., or by appointment; Caldwell Hall 215B.

            E-mail: ujanel@isis.unc.edu.   Web site: www.unc.edu/~ujanel.

Written work

There will be four short papers (1500-2000 words) during the semester, due on February 5, February 26, March 25, and April 15.  Topics will be of your own choosing; I will pass around lists of suggestions.  If you like, you may (once) substitute one double-length paper for two of the shorter ones.

There will be a final examination; its weight is negotiable.

 

Syllabus

January 15:  Introduction to the main issues.  Cartesian Dualism.  Reading (during class): Passages from Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy (1). 

January 22:  Dualism and Behaviorism.  Reading: Remaining Descartes selections (1); Locke excerpt (2); Ryle (4); Strawson (5).  Suggested: Matthews (6), Ryle (47). 

January 29:  The Identity Theory and Functionalism.  Reading: Putnam (16); Smart (17); Shaffer (18); Armstrong (19); Campbell (20); Putnam (21).  Suggested: Lewis (22); Lewis (24).

February 5:  Functionalism, continued.  Reading: Block (23).   Paper #1 due.

February 12:  Anomalous Monism and intentional causation.  Reading: Davidson (26); Kim (27).

February 19:  Intentionality.  Reading: Chisholm (31); Quine (32); Fodor (35); Dennett (54).  Suggested: Quine (33), Chisholm (34).

February 26:  Instrumentalism regarding intentionality.  Reading: Dennett (36); Dennett (62).  Paper #2 due.

March 4:  Methodological solipsism.  Computationalism and the Chinese Room.  Reading:  Fodor et al. (53); Searle et al. (55).  Suggested: Burge (57), Loar (58).

--Spring Break (wine, significant others, and song)--

March 18:  Psychosemantics.  Reading: Dretske (37).

<>March 25:  Eliminativism.  Reading: Stich (60); Churchland (61).  Suggested: Feyerabend (28), Quine (30).  Paper #3 due.

April 1:  Phenomenal character.  Reading: Shoemaker (43); revisit Block (23); Nagel (46).

<>April 8:  “What it’s like” and the Knowledge Argument.  Reading: Jackson (42). 

April 15:  Qualia strictly so called.  Reading: Chisholm (40); Jackson (41)   Suggested: Peacocke (44), Sellars (45).  Paper #4 due. 

April 22:  Commissurotomy and identity.  Reading: Nagel (48).  

Final exam, Tuesday, April 29, 12:00 noon.

 

Honor code

    Chancellor Moeser has asked faculty to include the following statement in all course syllabi.

Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the University’s life and work.
    The Honor Code and the Campus Code, embodying the ideals of academic honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship, have for over 100 years governed the performance of all academic work and student conduct at the University.  Acceptance by a student of enrollment in the University presupposes a commitment to the principles embodied in these codes and a respect for this most significant University tradition.
    Your participation in this course comes with my expectation that your work will be completed in full observance of the Honor Code.
    If you have any questions about your responsibility or my responsibility as a faculty member under the Honor Code and as the instructor in this course, please bring them to me, or consult with someone in either the office of the Student Attorney General or the Office of the Dean of Students.
I fully endorse this.  Thank you.