How are the mind and the body related?  Can the mind be understood
scientifically, and if so, what particular problems arise in
developing a science of the mind?  The first half of this course
addresses that first question: we will tour the development of the
metaphysics of mind and matter, from the rejection of dualism (the
claim that mind and body are radically distinct substances) through
to the more contemporary theory of functionalism (that the mind is
the 'software' running on the body's 'hardware').  On the way we
will consider such views as behaviorism (the mind is just the body's
dispositions to behave in particular ways); reductionism (the mind
just is a part of the body); and eliminativism (there's no such
thing as the mind).  Our methods for this section will be primarily
those of the analytic philosopher, with the deployment of
hypothetical cases to clarify what is meant by such concepts
as "belief" or "pain".

The second half of the course surveys recent issues in the
philosophy of the science of psychology, and will address such
questions as: Could computers or robots really think?  Is it better
to view the mind as a classical symbol-pushing system, or as a more
organic kind of connection-making system? What is the relationship
between neuroscience and cognition?  What is the role of evolution
in understanding the mind?

Students will be required to submit a short (about 1 page)
commentary on the assigned readings, approximately once a week.
There will also be a midterm paper, an in-class midterm test, and a
final examination.