introduction. course instructor office: hsh (ho sin hang) 213

Introduction

Course Instructor

Office: HSH (Ho Sin Hang) 213

Office Hours

Thursday 14:00 to 16:00 & by appointment

My Email

michael.dracula.johnson@gmail.com

Course Website

michaeljohnsonphilosophy.com

Course Meeting Times

Tuesday 12:30-14:00 LKK 108

Thursday 10:30-12:00 LKK 208

Reading

The main text for the course will be:

Philosophy of Mind:A Beginner’s Guide

By Ian Ravenscroft.

Reading

The first several chapters and the introduction are on the course website.

You will need the book for the other chapters! It is on reserve in the library and I’ve ordered it for the bookstore.

Assessment

You will have two take-home writing exercises based on assigned readings. You are expected to summarize, paraphrase, and respond critically to the arguments in these texts.

You will have three examinations that will assess your basic knowledge of concepts and theories in the philosophy of mind.

Grade Breakdown

• Exam 1: 30%• Exam 2: 30%• Exam 3: 30%• Writing exercises: 10%

Writing Exercises

The writing exercises can range from simple requests to explain some portion of the assigned reading to more difficult questions asking you to evaluate critically a philosophical position. They are meant to give you some practice in thinking about the issues and writing clearly about them. They are also designed, of course, to ensure that you read and think about the assigned reading material!

Exams

Your exams will be a combination of multiple-choice, short answer, and short essay questions. They will be held during our normal class period. Exam 2 only covers the material we cover after Exam 1; Exam 3 only covers material we cover after Exam 2.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance and participation in class are both required. You won’t lose any points if you don’t come to class and don’t participate, but you will learn a lot less, and will probably score lower on the assignments. If there is something you do not understand, please stop and ask me. I like questions, and I am happy to try to answer them.

Academic Dishonesty

Students shall be aware of the University regulations about dishonest practice in course work and the possible consequences as stipulated in the Regulations Governing University Examinations.

5.2a Collusion

A student misrepresents a piece of unauthorised group work as his/her own work.

5.2b Falsification of Data

The presentation of data in reports, projects or research papers, which is purported to be based on experimental or research work conducted by the student, has actually been invented by the student, copied or obtained by unfair means.

5.2c Plagiarism

The presentation of another person's work without proper acknowledgement of the source, whether protected by copyright or not, as the student's own work.

5.2d Anything Else Dishonest

For example, submission of same or substantially same work for two assignments without prior approval.

Policy on Cheating

I have zero tolerance for cheating.

When in doubt, ask me!

Policy on Talking in Class (When You’re Not Contributing)

Zero tolerance.

MENTAL STATES

States, Events, Processes

In English, “state” can mean two things.

1. It can mean a political entity (as in “United States”)

2. It can mean the condition of a thing (as in “Look at the state of this classroom! It’s a mess!”

States, Events, Processes

“Event” normally means “important happening.” So you’d say that an assassination or a birthday party or whatever was an event.

But as we use the term in philosophy and linguistics, “event” just means any change of state, whether it’s important or not.

Events

Initial State Event Result StateDirty Cleaning CleanHungry Eating Lunch FullTired Sleeping RestedOpen Closing Closed

States vs. Events

There are grammatical tests for verbs that name states vs. verbs that name events:

OK: Sam is thinking about his mom.BAD: Sam is believing that it’s raining.

If it sounds bad to say “is VERBing” then the VERB is a state verb. [say why!]

Processes

A process is a series of events (a series of changes of state).

Learning a language, for example, is a process: first you are in a state of knowing nothing, then you take some classes and know more, then you take more classes and know more, then…

Mental States

A mental state is a state of mind, like a sensation, an emotion, a mood, a perception or a thought.• Feeling a tickle, an itch, or a pain• Feeling angry, sad, happy, or nervous• Feeling depressed, anxious, or in good spirits• Seeing, hearing, touching, tasting or smelling

something• Believing, desiring, hoping, intending, wishing,

regretting, or knowing something.

1. World to Mind Causation

Things that happen outside of our minds can cause us to have certain mental states. If I open my eyes and face a dog, I

• See the dog• Believe there’s a dog in front of me

2. Mind to World Causation

Our mental states can cause us to act in certain ways.

If I want to go to Macau and I believe the ferry is the best way to get there, then I will go to the ferry and buy a ticket.

3. Mind to Mind Causation

Your mental states often cause you to have other mental states:

• Hunger causes you to want food and to believe that you need food.

• A painful experience at the dentist can cause you to be afraid of dentists.

Mental Processes

When mental states cause other mental states, that is a mental process.

Many mental processes are rational, meaning that causal relations between the mental states follow evidential relations.

Logical Relations

From:

1. If Joe fails the final exam, he will fail the course.2. If Joe fails the course, he will not graduate.

It follows logically that:

3. If Joe fails the final exam, he will not graduate.

Logical Relations

If you believe:

1. If Joe fails the final exam, he will fail the course.2. If Joe fails the course, he will not graduate.

These beliefs can cause you to also believe:

3. If Joe fails the final exam, he will not graduate.

4. Consciousness

Some mental states are conscious.

They feel a certain way. There is something that being in those states is like.

5. Intentionality

Some mental states are representational. They are about certain things.

My belief that Li Ka-shing is rich is about Li Ka-shing. It represents him as being rich.

(Other mental states don’t seem representational. What is depression about?)

5. Intentionality

Very few things are representational besides minds and things that people with minds make:

Maps, diagrams, drawings, paintings, languages

A number of philosophers think that mental states are the ultimate source of all representation in the world.

6. Neural Correlates

For a large number of mental states, there seems to be a pretty direct connection between them and certain brain regions.

There is a particular place in my brain and if you stimulate it, my thumb will itch. Right next to it is a place where if you stimulate it, my thumb will move.

Some Questions in the Philosophy of Mind

What are mental states?What sorts of things can have mental states?Can physical thing have mental states?Are our minds physical?What is consciousness?Why are some of our mental states conscious?What makes me now the same as me in the past?