The course is meant to provide students with an introduction to the contemporary debate about the relationships between mind, brain and body. The course will focus on the main philosophical traditions that have inspired the recent literature on the topic. Particular attention will be devoted to the ontological status of conscious qualitative states (qualia)
Mandik, P. (2014) This is Philosophy of Mind: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell;
or in italian
Di Francesco, M. (2002) Introduzione alla filosofia della mente. Carocci;
Zipoli Caiani, S. (2016) Corporeità e Cognizione. Le Monnier.
other articles will be provided during classes.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: the course aims to provide students with an adequate knowledge of the basic concepts and problems of philosophy of mind.
Competence: students will develop the ability to comprehend problems concerning the ontological status of mental phenomena. They will sharpen their capacities of analysis and interpretation by comparing different theoretical frameworks.
Skills: successful students will become familiar with the contemporary philosophical language, as well as with valuable bibliographic resources, crucial for understanding the debate in philosophy of mind.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required
Teaching Methods
Classes with open discussion on relevant topics (the active participation to the discussion is strongly encouraged). There will be the possibility to write a short essay on selected topics.
Further information
English syllabus is available upon request.
Type of Assessment
The final examination aims at ascertaining the student's actual level of knowledge and understanding. This is a conversation with the teacher without books and notes of about 30 minutes, focused on various topics related to the content of the course (see learning objectives). Particular attention will be addressed to the assessment of the student's abilities of contextualization and critical analysis of philosophical problems and solutions. A short essay of about 5000 words concerning a selected topic will be part of the student assessment. Through the essay the students should be able to demonstrate their capacities of analysis and interpretation by comparing different theoretical frameworks. The essay should be submitted a week before the examination date.
Course program
"introduction to philosophy of mind" (24 hours):
1) what philosophy of mind is;
2) historical introduction to the mind-body problem;
3) Descartes and substance dualism;
4) The Cartesian legacy and the varieties of contemporary dualism;
5) Eliminative materialism;
6) Theories of the mind-brain identity;
7) Functionalism;
8) The problem of intentionality;
9) Representationalism;
10) Theories of Embodiment;
"Nature and consciousness" (12 hours)
- the explanatory gap between natural sciences and consciousness;
- arguments against the physicalist reduction of qualitative states;
- representational theories of qualia;
- The Intentional Phenomenality view.