MINDS, BRAINS, AND MACHINES: CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

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Overview

What is the mind and what is it made of? Can we say that mind and brain are the same thing? Are mental states, like thoughts and feelings, nothing more than brain states? Can machines be conscious? Do they have a mind? Do they think? Is language necessary for thinking? These and other questions will be the focus of this subject, which introduces you to contemporary philosophy of mind and to the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary cognitive science, psychology and linguistics.

Portfolio

Office of the Provost

School

Subject coordinator

Yuri Cath

Subject type

Undergraduate

Year level

Year Level 3 - UG

AQF level

Level 7 - Bachelor Degree

Available as elective

Yes

Available to study abroad / exchange students

Yes

Capstone subject
Capstones provide students with a way of integrating and applying knowledge and skills gained throughout their course.

Yes

Academic progress review - Schedule A subject

Subject instances

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Career ready

Work based learning (placement):No

Graduate capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing

COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective

COMMUNICATION - Digital Capability

DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Adaptability and Self-Management

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Ethical and Social Responsibility

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Leadership and Teamwork

Subject intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

Identify the underlying issues in a complex problem or controversial debate, analyse their structure and employ appropriate reasoning strategies designed to resolve the problem.

Identify, formulate, analyse and judge the success of standard form and text-based arguments, using appropriate methods of analysis and critical reasoning.

Work collaboratively to assess the merits of philosophical arguments taking into account the different views and starting points of group members.

Write a carefully constructed essay in support of a philosophical claim.

Learning activities

Essays, online forums, group and/or individual learning activities in class or online.

Enrolment rules

Special conditions

Requisite rules

Prerequisites: Students must have completed 60 credit points of level 1 subjects.

Handbook