Contemporary Theories of Consciousness - AFSV00290

• Anglický název: Contemporary Theories of Consciousness
• Zajišťuje: Ústav filosofie a religionistiky (21-UFAR)
• Fakulta: Filozofická fakulta
• Platnost: od 2017
• Semestr: zimní
• Body: 0
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:2/0 Zk [hodiny/týden]
• Počet míst: 30 / neurčen (30)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu
• Garant: doc. James Hill, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: doc. James Hill, Ph.D.

Anotace

Poslední úprava: doc. James Hill, Ph.D. (17.09.2017)

We shall examine contemporary attempts to define and explain the phenomenon of consciousness. The central question will be whether or not consciousness can be explained in a scientific and naturalistic way: whether, for example, it can be understood as a state of the brain, or as reducible to "functional states", or by a physicist theory involving sub-atomic events. We will pay attention to the so-called "mysterians" who think that a naturalist explanation, though in principle possible, is humanly unattainable. We will also consider emergentist theory and the recent revival of panpsychism. Throughout the course we will bear in mind the different conceptions of consciousness that are presupposed by the philosophers whom we discuss.

Course Plan:
1. Introduction: consciousness and naturalism
2. Identity theory
3. Functionalism
4. Non-reductive biological theory
5. Mysterianism
6. Cognitive closure
7. Supervenience
8. Emergentism
9. Panpsychism
10. Quantum theory
11. The neurobiological approach
12. Conclusion

Požadavky k zápisu

Poslední úprava: doc. James Hill, Ph.D. (17.09.2017)

Each week there will be a reading available which will be the subject of our discussion in the seminar. The reading is an essential part of the course, and students will lose their way if they fail to do it. Our course will be graded according to two criteria: attendance and written work.

(i) To be eligible for the grade, students should not be absent from the seminar more than three times over the semester.

(ii) The written work will be a short essay, of between 1,000-1,500 words on one subject from the course. This essay, written in English, should show knowledge of a philosopher included in the course, and the student’s own argued standpoint. The essay should be handed in on paper by December 1^st, 2017. Essays cannot be accepted after this date, nor can they be accepted in electronic form. It is important that Erasmus students do not leave Prague without discussing their essay with me, as the discussion may contribute towards the grade.