Philosophy 111
Philosophy of Mind

TTh 11:30 - 12:45
Room 002, Kalkin Hall
Final Exam: 9:00am-11:00, Thursday, 5/7


SYLLABUS

Midterm Exam Review Session Tuesday, 3/3 at 8:30pm in the philosophy dept. at 70 S. Willaims St. (from Waterman, walk one block down College St., turn right onto S. Williams St., and go 1/2 block)

Midterm Study Guide

Final Exam Review Session Wednesday, 5/6 at 11:00 in room 109, 70 S. Williams St. (the philosophy department)

Final Exam Study Guide


Homework

Homework #1 (click here), due in class Thursday, 2/12.

Homework #2 (click here), due in class Thursday, 3/26.

Homework #3 (click here), due in class Thursday, 4/16.


Extra Material

Count the ball passes by the white team

Color Changing Card Trick

Reference Fixing vs. Meaning Giving
Tentative Schedule of Reading Assignments
DateReading To Be Done For Class On That DayMini-Assignment or Notes
Thursday, 1/15 Quick summary of Descartes' Meditations, click here
Descartes' Meditation 6 (available on-line here), especially paragraphs 7-9, 13, 19-22
Tuesday, 1/20 Ryle's "Descartes' Myth" Something to think about: What reasons does Ryle give for thinking that Cartesian Dualism is wrong?
Thursday, 1/22 pp. 7-21 of Churchland's Matter and Consciousness
Tuesday, 1/27 Hempel's "The Logical Analysis of Psychology"
pp. 23-25 of Churchland's Matter and Consciousness
Mini-Assignment to be turned in in class
Thursday, 1/29 Putnam's "Brains and Behavior"None.
Tuesday, 2/3 Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes"None.
Thursday, 2/5 No reading.
Tuesday, 2/10 pp. 26-29 and 32 of Churchland's Matter and Consciousness
Armstrong's "The Causal Theory of the Mind"
None.
Thursday, 2/12 No reading. Homework #1 due
Tuesday, 2/17 Sections 1 through 3.3, but skip 2.1, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on Functionalism
pp. 36-38 of Churchland's Matter and Consciousness
None.
Thursday, 2/19 No reading.
Tuesday, 2/24 The Intro and sections 1 (skip 1.1), 2, and 4 of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on "Turing Machines" Mini-assignment. to be turned in in class
Thursday, 2/26 Putnam's "The Nature of Mental States"None.
Tuesday, 3/3 Town Meeting day. No class.
Thursday, 3/5 Midterm Exam!
Tuesday, 3/10 Spring Break -- No Class.
Thursday, 3/12 Spring Break -- No Class.
Tuesday, 3/17 Block's "Troubles with Functionalism?"
Searle's "Can Computers Think?"
Notes.
Thursday, 3/19 Churchland, "Eliminative Materialism and the Propositional Attitudes" Notes
Tuesday, 3/24 No reading.
Thursday, 3/26 No reading. Homework #2 due
Tuesday, 3/31 Churchland, excerpts on Connectionism from Chapter 7 of Matter and Consciousness None.
Thursday, 4/2 Fodor and Pylyshyn, "Connectionism and Cognitive Architecture: A Critical Analysis" Read only sections 2, 2.1, 2.2, and all of 3 (that is, skip all of 1, 2.1.1-2.1.4, and 2.2.1-2.2.2) Notes.
Tuesday, 4/7 Clark and Chalmers' "The Extended Mind"None.
Thursday, 4/9 Nagel's "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" Notes
Tuesday, 4/14 Jackson's "Epiphenomenal Qualia" Notes
Thursday, 4/16 No reading. Homework #3 due
Tuesday, 4/21 Churchland, "Reduction, Qualia, and the Direct Introspection of Brain States"None.
Thursday, 4/23 Lewis, "Knowing What It's Like"
Nemirow, "Physicalism and the Cognitive Role of Acquaintance"
None.
Tuesday, 4/28 Dennett's "Quining Qualia" up to but not including Intuition pump #9None.
Thursday, 5/7 Final Exam at 9:00am in classroomNone.

Instructor:

Mr. Moyer
Room 204
70 S. Williams St. (mailbox on main floor)
656-3140
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30
I can also be available after class or many other times. Simply send me email or let me know after class if you'd like to set up a time to meet.
Email: Mark.Moyer@uvm.edu


Steps to Becoming a Better Student

  1. Read. Read more and you will improve your written expression and perhaps even your ability to think more carefully. This, I believe, is the best way of becoming a better student overall.
  2. Here are some common basic spelling and grammar mistakes to avoid.

Want a little fun while doing a bit of philosophy? Take the following test -- click here!