THE MIND-BODY PROBLEMUNIT 1: WHAT IS A PERSON?MR. DEZILVA GRADE 11 PHILOSOPHY

WHAT IS THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM?

The problem examines the correlation between mind and matter, reason and experience, empiricism and rationalism

COGNITION

What is Cognition? The scientific study of how the human mind processes information

Cognitive Psychology A branch of psychology, which seeks to answer questions like “what is thought?” and “how can we be certain of knowledge?”

Cognition can also develop into Metacognition: “Thinking about Thinking.”

THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM

The Purple Elephant:

Activity:“Whatever you do, do NOT think of a purple elephant”

Discovery

CAN WE KNOW WITHOUT DOING OR EXPERIENCING?

BATTLE: MIND VERSUS MATTER

THE BIG QUESTIONS

How are Physical Events and Mental Events Related? Examples?

•Discuss

Another Big Question: Is it possible to think of something not experienced with the senses?

•Discuss

SOME KEY MEDIA TO CONSIDERMemento (Directed by Christopher Nolan)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=XlV4ym68v7o

The Matrix (Directed by The Wachowskis)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmEPXXJ4sKw

Inception (Directed by Christopher Nolan)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0hFBIusd3Y

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Directed by Michel Gondry)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quuMv7cGUn0

The Bourne Identity (Created by Robert Ludlum)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tqK_3mKQUw

QUICK SHORT ASSIGNMENT

- Refer to Handout