PHI 226 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

What is the nature of the mind, and how does it relate to the body? Can computers ever think? Do animals have mental and emotional lives? An examination of attempts in 20th century philosophy to overcome Cartesian dualism about mind and matter and to develop a unified account of mind and the physical world. Consideration of a variety of theories proposing an identity between experiences and brain states, and also examine objections to such views. Other key questions will include: Can cognitive psychology give an adequate account of thought and of subjective experience? In what sense, if any, do we have privileged access to the contents of our minds? What is an emotion? Readings from Putnam, Dennett, Nagel, Davidson, Searle, and others.