Philosophy of Mind is one of the central areas of philosophy. The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to some of the general views of the mind that have been advanced over the last 100 years in seeking to resolve the mind/body problem. This will require not only understanding ways in which philosophers have related the mental to the physical but some investigation into what is to be understood by ‘mental’ in the first place.  

• Explain and analyse influential arguments and positions in the Philosophy of Mind. 
• Construct and evaluate arguments, both verbally and in written work 
• Work independently 

The module will be delivered through a mix of large group and small group sessions, including, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year – and may be, in part, determined by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.   

Discipline Specific Skills 

•  An ability to analyse and construct philosophical arguments 
•  An ability to deploy appropriate philosophical vocabulary 
•  An ability to use appropriately and independently a variety of textual sources 

 Employability or Transferable Skills: 

Although the point of the module is to do philosophy, many of the skills you’ll be developing are also highly valued by graduate employers. These include: 

•  Critical Thinking: e.g. the ability to understand, structure and critically evaluate the key points and arguments made in written texts and discussions––achieved through e.g. reading, small group activities in lectures and seminars, plenary discussions in seminars, reflecting on lecture materials, essay and exam preparation and writing. 
•  Communication: the ability to formulate and articulate your critical thinking, both orally and on paper, in ways that others can grasp and engage with––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, seminar discussions, essay/exam writing. • Organisation: the ability to organise and coordinate workloads––achieved through balancing e.g. reading, seminar preparation, essay/exam preparation. 
• Working with others: e.g. co-constructing ideas, responding sensitively to others––achieved through e.g. small group work in seminars, group presentations. 

The assessment(s) for this module will be published in due course.

Indicative module content and reading is as follows: 

Week 1: Introduction and dualism - Kim, ‘Mind as immaterial substance’. 

Week 2: Behaviourism - H Hempel, ‘The logical analysis of psychology’, Ryle, The Concept of Mind. 

Week 3: Identity Theory – Smart, ‘Sensations and brain processes’, Lewis, ‘An argument for the 

identity theory’. 

Week 4: Causal Theory of Mind – Armstrong, ‘The causal theory of mind’ 

Week 5:  Putnam, 

‘Psychological predicates’. 

Week 6: Reading Week 

Week 7: Computationalism – Turing, ‘Computing machinery and intelligence’ 

Week 8: Phenomenal Properties of Mind – Nagel, ‘What is it like to be a bat?’ 

Week 9: Anomalous Monism - Davidson, ‘Mental events’. 

Week 10: Mind: Realism and anti-Realism – Dennett, ‘Intentional systems’, Fodor, 

‘Psychosemantics’. 

Week 11: Eliminativist Materialism – Churchland, ‘Eliminativism and the propositional attitudes’.