Humans are clearly different to other animals, but what mental or social features, if any, are unique to us? And how are these features best understood? And how can we find out about them experimentally? This module will explore the philosophical implications of empirical research on animal minds on the conceptualization and definition of a range of mental and social phenomena. These may include phenomena like consciousness, theory of mind, and culture. The module will also include discussions about the methodology of comparative psychology.

• Summarise and explain recent research related to conceptualisations of mental and social phenomena in philosophy of: mind, psychology and biology
• Identify problems with philosophical positions as well as potential responses to them
• Construct arguments, both verbally and in written work, drawing on relevant philosophical and empirical 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.   

It is worth bearing in mind that, even though 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 module focuses on areas of philosophy of biology and philosophy of cognitive science that are related to understanding human and animal minds. Topics covered on the module may include the below (note they are subject to change). While most of the module readings will be philosophers, some are also by philosophically inclined scientists, whose work contributes to these debates.

Weeks 1-4: Methodology in comparative psychology

We will evaluate Morgan’s Canon as a potential response to anthropocentrism in comparative psychology, and whether it brings problems of its own.

Indicative readings:

Morgan, C.L. (1894). An introduction to comparative psychology. London, Walter Scott.

Fitzpatrick, S. (2008). Doing away with Morgan’s Canon. Mind and Language, 23, 224-246.

Weeks 5-8: Consciousness

We will try to identify what we mean by consciousness, pain and subjectivity, what it means to say that an animal is conscious and how to experimentally assess it, looking in particular at the evolutionary origins of consciousness.

Indicative readings:

Godfrey-Smith, P. (2017). The evolution of consciousness in phylogenetic context. In K. Andrews and J. Beck (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Animal Minds, pp. 216-226.

Damasio, A. & Carvalho, G. B. (2013). The nature of feelings: evolutionary and neurobiological origins. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14, 143–152.

Weeks 9-11: Culture

What is culture, are there different kinds, and are humans the only ones who have it?

Indicative reading:

Laland, K. N., & Hoppitt, W. (2003). Do animals have culture?. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews, 12(3), 150-159.

Tennie, C., Call, J., and Tomasello, M. (2009). Ratching up the ratchet: On the evolution of cumulative culture. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 364, 2405-2415