Philosophy of Mind
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims at an in-depth understanding of a current debate or research topic within the philosophy of mind
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire in-depth knowledge and critical skills to discuss a contemporary topic or debate in the field of philosophy of mind.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze complex problems in the context of the philosophy of mind and to identify possible solutions to these problems. They will be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to various fields of research.
Students will acquire in-depth knowledge and critical skills to discuss a contemporary topic or debate in the field of philosophy of mind.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze complex problems in the context of the philosophy of mind and to identify possible solutions to these problems. They will be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to various fields of research.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
In the course we shall analyse theories on the nature of mental contents with a focus on the content of perceptual states and of hallucinations. The final part of the course is on the relation between perception and belief.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be taught in English (Level B2)
Teaching methods
Lectures and students's presentations.
Teaching Resources
Exam Program for 9 CFU:
Introductory reading
1. William Fish, Philosophy of Perception. A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge, 2010, chapts. 1-6.
The objects of perception
1. John L. Austin (1962), Sense and Sensibilia, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
2. S. Kripke (2013), Reference and Existence, Lecture 4, Oxford University Press
3. D. Lewis, "Veridical Hallucination and Prosthetic Vision", Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 59, 1980, pp. 239-249.
4. D. Lewis (1997), "Naming the Colors", Australasian Journal of Philosophy 75: 325-342.
The contents of perception:
1. Siegel, Susanna, "The Contents of Perception", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/perception-contents/
2. M. Tye, Consciousness, Color, and Content, 2000 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, selection of pages.
3. Kriegel, U., 2002. "Phenomenal content," Erkenntnis, 57: 175-198.
4. D. Chalmers, "Perception and the Fall from Eden," in Perceptual Experience, T. Gendler and J. Hawthorne (eds.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 49-125.
Qualia
1. S. Shoemaker (1994), "Phenomenal Character", Nous 28: 21-38
2. S. Shoemaker (1982), "The Inverted Spectrum", The Journal of Philosophy, 79: 357-381.
3. F. MacPherson (2012), "Cognitive Penetration of Colour Experience: Rethinking the Issue in Light of an Indirect Mechanism", Philosophy and Phenomenological Research , 84: 24-62.
4. F. Dretske (1993) "Conscious Experience," Mind, 102 (406): 263-283.
Perceptual knowledge
1. A. Goldman (1979) "What is justified belief", in G. Pappas (ed.) Justification and Knowledge, Boston, Reidel, pp. 89-104.
2. J. Greco (2005) "Justification is not Internal", in M. Steup e E. Sosa (eds.)
Exam program for 6 CFU:
Introductory reading
1. William Fish, Philosophy of Perception. A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge, 2010, chapts. 1-6.
The objects of perception
1. John L. Austin (1962), Sense and Sensibilia, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
2. S. Kripke (2013), Reference and Existence, Lecture 4, Oxford University Press
3. D. Lewis, "Veridical Hallucination and Prosthetic Vision", Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 59, 1980, pp. 239-249.
4. D. Lewis (1997), "Naming the Colors", Australasian Journal of Philosophy 75: 325-342.
The contents of perception:
1. Siegel, Susanna, "The Contents of Perception", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/perception-contents/
2. M. Tye, Consciousness, Color, and Content, 2000 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, selection of pages.
3. Kriegel, U., 2002. "Phenomenal content," Erkenntnis, 57: 175-198.
4. D. Chalmers, "Perception and the Fall from Eden," in Perceptual Experience, T. Gendler and J. Hawthorne (eds.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 49-125.
Qualia
1. S. Shoemaker (1994), "Phenomenal Character", Nous 28: 21-38
2. S. Shoemaker (1982), "The Inverted Spectrum", The Journal of Philosophy, 79: 357-381.
3. F. MacPherson (2012), "Cognitive Penetration of Colour Experience: Rethinking the Issue in Light of an Indirect Mechanism", Philosophy and Phenomenological Research , 84: 24-62.
4. F. Dretske (1993) "Conscious Experience," Mind, 102 (406): 263-283.
The program for non-attending students is identical to the program for attending students.
Contemporary Debates in Epistemology, Malden (MA), Blackwell, pp. 257-270.
Introductory reading
1. William Fish, Philosophy of Perception. A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge, 2010, chapts. 1-6.
The objects of perception
1. John L. Austin (1962), Sense and Sensibilia, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
2. S. Kripke (2013), Reference and Existence, Lecture 4, Oxford University Press
3. D. Lewis, "Veridical Hallucination and Prosthetic Vision", Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 59, 1980, pp. 239-249.
4. D. Lewis (1997), "Naming the Colors", Australasian Journal of Philosophy 75: 325-342.
The contents of perception:
1. Siegel, Susanna, "The Contents of Perception", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/perception-contents/
2. M. Tye, Consciousness, Color, and Content, 2000 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, selection of pages.
3. Kriegel, U., 2002. "Phenomenal content," Erkenntnis, 57: 175-198.
4. D. Chalmers, "Perception and the Fall from Eden," in Perceptual Experience, T. Gendler and J. Hawthorne (eds.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 49-125.
Qualia
1. S. Shoemaker (1994), "Phenomenal Character", Nous 28: 21-38
2. S. Shoemaker (1982), "The Inverted Spectrum", The Journal of Philosophy, 79: 357-381.
3. F. MacPherson (2012), "Cognitive Penetration of Colour Experience: Rethinking the Issue in Light of an Indirect Mechanism", Philosophy and Phenomenological Research , 84: 24-62.
4. F. Dretske (1993) "Conscious Experience," Mind, 102 (406): 263-283.
Perceptual knowledge
1. A. Goldman (1979) "What is justified belief", in G. Pappas (ed.) Justification and Knowledge, Boston, Reidel, pp. 89-104.
2. J. Greco (2005) "Justification is not Internal", in M. Steup e E. Sosa (eds.)
Exam program for 6 CFU:
Introductory reading
1. William Fish, Philosophy of Perception. A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge, 2010, chapts. 1-6.
The objects of perception
1. John L. Austin (1962), Sense and Sensibilia, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
2. S. Kripke (2013), Reference and Existence, Lecture 4, Oxford University Press
3. D. Lewis, "Veridical Hallucination and Prosthetic Vision", Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 59, 1980, pp. 239-249.
4. D. Lewis (1997), "Naming the Colors", Australasian Journal of Philosophy 75: 325-342.
The contents of perception:
1. Siegel, Susanna, "The Contents of Perception", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/perception-contents/
2. M. Tye, Consciousness, Color, and Content, 2000 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, selection of pages.
3. Kriegel, U., 2002. "Phenomenal content," Erkenntnis, 57: 175-198.
4. D. Chalmers, "Perception and the Fall from Eden," in Perceptual Experience, T. Gendler and J. Hawthorne (eds.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 49-125.
Qualia
1. S. Shoemaker (1994), "Phenomenal Character", Nous 28: 21-38
2. S. Shoemaker (1982), "The Inverted Spectrum", The Journal of Philosophy, 79: 357-381.
3. F. MacPherson (2012), "Cognitive Penetration of Colour Experience: Rethinking the Issue in Light of an Indirect Mechanism", Philosophy and Phenomenological Research , 84: 24-62.
4. F. Dretske (1993) "Conscious Experience," Mind, 102 (406): 263-283.
The program for non-attending students is identical to the program for attending students.
Contemporary Debates in Epistemology, Malden (MA), Blackwell, pp. 257-270.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final grade will be based to 50% on oral exam and on 50% on a term paper, 2500 words maximum, to be turned in approximately 15 days after the end of classes.
Students who do not turn the paper in by the due date will take an oral exam only.
The oral exam and the paper will be assessed by considering the student's knowledge of the theories, understanding of problems and possible solutions and capacity to construct arguments.
Students who do not turn the paper in by the due date will take an oral exam only.
The oral exam and the paper will be assessed by considering the student's knowledge of the theories, understanding of problems and possible solutions and capacity to construct arguments.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10.00 - 13.00. Covid emergency: office hours are held online via Skype or by telephone. Please send me an e-mail to make an appointment.
Festa del Perdono, 7 - Cortile Ghiacciaia, II piano. Please write an e-mail to make an appointment