CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

*Dr. Lee*	*Spring, 2005*
*Office hrs: MWF 3-4; TR 2-3*	*e-mail: plee@franuniv.edu*
*Phone: 283-6245 x2361*

Specific Objectives:

to acquire an understanding of the basic contemporary arguments and problems surrounding two issues: body and soul, personal identity.

to develop further reading, writing and oral communication skills.

to develop analytical skills, including an ability to scrutinize different sides of difficult moral questions.

to develop creative skills, that is, an ability to think beyond what is given, and to conceive novel solutions to various problems.

Texts: 1. Kevin Corcoran, (ed.), Soul, Body, and Survival

2. Raymond Martin and John Barresi, Personal Identity

3. James B. Reichmann, S.J., Evolution, Animal ‘Rights’, and the Environment

Date Topic and Some Reading Assignments

Jan	17	Introduction; Body-Mind Problems

	24	Substance Dualism
			Internet Assignment #1; Taliaferro and Goetz in Corcoran; (optional: Foster in Corcoran)
	31		Substance Dualism; Problem of Personal Identity
			Internet Assignment #2; Martin &Barresi, pp. 1-39
Feb	7		Problem of Personal Identity; Psychological Continuity Theorists
			Bernard Williams in M&B, Parfit, pp. 115-143 in M&B (optional: Nozick in M&B)
	14		Psychological Continuity Theorists Continued
			Lewis, Sosa, and Parfit, pp. 292-317
Feb	21		Criticisms of Psychological Continuity Theorists
			Korsgaard, Johnston, Olson in M&B
	28		Constitutionalism
			Baker in Corcoran
Mar	14		Possibility of Resurrection
			Davis and Merricks in Corcoran
	21		Materialism or Physicalism
			Internet Reading; Reichmann, pp. 56-65; Ch. 2
Apr	4		Physicalism Continued
			Reichmann, Ch. 3; Internet Reading
	11		Language
			Reichmann, Ch. 4
	18		Language
			Internet Reading
	25		Freedom
			Internet Reading; Reichmann, Ch. 3
May	2		Humans and Other Animals
			Reichmann, Ch. 5
	9		FINAL EXAM

PAPER: Approximately 10-15 pp. long. An outline is due April 4, and the final draft is due April 25. The paper will be discussed further in class. Also see "Notes on Writing a Philosophy Paper on our page at my website.

OTHER WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: At times I may ask you to write a few sentences on the reading assignment as preparation for class.

IN- CLASS PRESENTATIONS: Each graduate student will give a presentation on one of the readings. The presentation will be no more than 30 minutes long and will consist of a summary and clarification of the article. The presentation must be typed up and a copy of it handed in on the day of the presentation.

EXAMS: There will be two exams. The first exam will be take-home. The final will be in class, and cumulative.

GRADES: The grade will be calculated as follows: about equal amounts for each grade less about 10% for participation (the presentation by the grad student will be a pass-fail grade and will affect the participation grade).