Learning objectives
1-Knowledge and understanding
The course introduces some the main themes of the philosophy of mind and the role it plays in different philosophical traditions. This allows the students to grasp the logical space in which the debate is situated as well as the state of the contemporary debate on the topic.
2-Applying Knowledge and understanding
Through a close analysis of arguments proposed by classical philosophers students acquire techniques necessary for formulating and criticizing an argument. In addition, they sharpen their conceptual tools to engage in the debate.
3-4- Making judgments, communication skills
Students are encouraged to participate actively in discussion in class, which should train them to weigh arguments, arrive at defending a specific position and formulate arguments in favor of it.
5-Learning skills
Great emphasis will be put on reading skills: students will be trained to recognize philosophical arguments and come up with a rational reconstruction which highlights the impact of the respective argument for the debate. In short, they acquire techniques necessary for studying other topics and doing philosophy autonomously.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite required.
Course unit content
The course gives an introduction to the philosophy of mind, focusing on theories that have been developed in the late twentieth and early twentyfirst century.
Full programme
The detailed program will be made available at the website of the course on ELLY.
Bibliography
Textbook: Di Francesco, Michele, Massimo Marraffa, e Alfredo Tomasetta: Filosofia della mente: corpo, coscienza, pensiero. Roma: Carocci editore, 2017. (Students who do not read Italian are encouraged to contact me to agree on an alternative textbook).
In addition to the text book, there will be short excerpts from texts from contemporary philosophers that further illustrate the positions discussed in class. These texts will be available on elly.dusic.unipr.it.
Students who are not able to be present at the course will prepare the same textbook. In order to assist students who cannot assist the lectures, slides and audio-registrations of the lectures are provided at the course-site on elly.unipr.it. Students who cannot assist the lectures are cordially invited to contact the professor or come to see him during office hours in order to discuss topics related to the course or the exam modalities.
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures and discussion in class. There will be a possibility to connect to the classroom in real time via internet (depending on the sanitary situation, the method could be subject to change). Moreover, registrations of the lectures will be available for those who cannot attend the lectures in real time. In addition, we will organise (non-obbligatory) discussion groups that will allow us to further discuss the material presented in class and related topics.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists of a written part with short questions, and, a few days later, an oral part with more general questions. Each part weighs 50% of the final grade.
The grades range from 18 (minimum) to 30 e lode. The criteria for the assignment of the grade are:
30 e lode: excellent, profound knowledge, excellent expressive capacities, complete comprehension of the relevant concepts and arguments
30: very good, complete and adequate knowledge, good discursive capacities with respect to the topic of the course.
27-29: good, an acceptable degree of knowledge, acceptable discursive capacities with respect to the topic of the course.
24-26: mediocre level of knowledge, though incomplete and not not always correct.
21-23: basic, though superficial knowledge. Inadequate discursive competences with respect to the topic of the course.
18-21: sufficient
Below 18: insufficient. Very imcomplete knowledge, presentation unclear, incomplete comprehension of the basic concepts and arguments.
Other information
Students are warmly invited to consult the course web-site on ELLY.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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