SP21 PHIL483/583

Philosophical Psychology (PHIL483/583)
Charles Wallis
Mondays & Wednesdays  ·  3:30pm–4:45pm  ·  online

Theoretical speculation regarding the nature and operations of mind as well as the place of the mental in nature dates at least to ancient Greece. This course familiarizes students with the core conceptual, ontological, epistemological, and methodological issues that emerge throughout the development of western thought on this subject. Once students gain exposure to these historically significant issues, the course emphasis shifts towards understanding the dramatic progress made within the last 100 years in understanding the mind and its place in nature. Of particular interest: (1) What differentiates the concepts, ontology, epistemology, and methodology responsible for the profound leaps in theoretical insight during the last century from less fecund approaches? (2) What conception of the mind is emerging from the contemporary torrent of research? (3) What issues and/or phenomena continue to prove recalcitrant? (4) What, if any, legitimate role remains for philosophy and philosophers in the advancement of our understanding of the mind?