PHIL 118. Philosophy of Mind

The course is divided into three principal sections, focusing on philosophy of mind, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science. Section 1 covers four core positions in the philosophy of mind “dualism, behaviorism, materialism, and functionalism,” and it serves as an overview of traditional philosophy of mind. Section 2 explores how the philosophical ideas developed above connect to ongoing research in artificial intelligence. Section 3 concerns the philosophy of cognitive science, a field that investigates the biological and neurophysiological underpinnings of human mentality. Part of the aim is to clarify the goals and methods of cognitive science and to investigate ways in which advances in cognitive science may yield philosophical insights into the nature of mind.
This seminar is intended for Seniors and Juniors, with priority given to honors students taking it as an honors preparation. Others should contact the instructor for permission to enroll.
PHIL distribution - L
Humanities.
2 credits.
Eligible for COGS-focus course
Spring 2025. Baker.
Catalog chapter: Philosophy
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/philosophy

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