This course explores some central themes in contemporary philosophy of mind. We investigate key philosophical questions about the nature and activities of the human mind and about its place in nature and society. Some of these questions relate to issues in other important areas of philosophy, including aesthetics, the theory of knowledge, and the philosophy of language. There are five course books:
Aspects of Mind. The aim of this book is to provide an overview of some crucial debates about the nature of the mind. It begins with the theories of Aristotle and Descartes, before moving on to consider the views of some contemporary philosophers. |
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Emotion introduces a number of debates in a fast developing field in contemporary philosophy of mind. What are emotions? Do they help or hinder our capacity to make good practical decisions? |
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Language and Thought This book considers three key questions in contemporary philosophy. How do words have meaning? How can thoughts be ‘about’ things in the world? What is the relationship between language and thought? |
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Imagination and Creativity This book begins with a discussion of imagination: what is imagination, and what role does the imagination play in our mental lives? It then moves on to a second topic – creativity: it asks whether creativity can be defined and explores the relationship between creativity and the imagination. |
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Consciousness This final book focuses on one of the most challenging questions in contemporary philosophy of mind: what is consciousness, and can it be explained in physical terms? |
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