Subject Area: Philosophy

This course is intended to cover topics having to do with the nature of mind and meaning, both from a metaphysical and an epistemological point of view.

Module: "Truth and Belief" (Semester 1, 2011)
This module is an introduction to philosophical puzzles concerning the nature of belief, knowledge and the mind. We begin by considering the nature of belief, and specifically its connection to truth. It is a truism that beliefs are correct if and only if they are true. But what does this tell us about the nature of belief, or about the ways in which we form and abandon beliefs? From the topic of belief we move onto the nature of knowledge. Traditionally, knowledge has been taken to require something over and above merely true belief: a lucky guess, for example, does not count as knowledge. But what is this extra element, that distinguishes a lucky guess from knowledge? General metaphysical questions concerning the nature of the mind will also be discussed.

Module: "Philosophy of Mind"
This module begins by discussing the virtual disappearance of the idea of the soul, of the conscious self as an entity separate from the body which might go on existing without it. How has this come about? What alternative ideas have recent thinkers given us? Are these new ideas intellectually and humanly acceptable? Having become familiar with the major contemporary views about the nature of mind, we will turn to a range of related topics. Are minds just digital computers? Are states of mind are just states of our brains and nervous systems? How is it possible for mere aggregates of matter to possess consciousness and the capacity for thought?

Module: "The Use of Language, Images and Symbols" (Semester 2, 2011)
The leading question we consider in this course is: