THE MIND/BODY PROBLEM

COURSE: Social Science 135M

• Lecture: TuTh 3:30-4:50
• Code: 68300
• Room: SE2 1306
  
• TEXT: Blackmore, Consciousness: An Introduction; Hoffman, Visual Intelligence

PROFESSOR: Don Hoffman

• Office: SBSG 2336
• Phone: 824-6795
• Office Hr: Tu 1:00-1:50

SECRETARY: Justine Sarashid

• Office: SSPA 2135
• Phone: 824-6336

GENERAL INFORMATION

In this class we will read and discuss current literature on the classic mind-body problem. Some questions we will consider are these: What is consciousness and what is matter and how are the two related? How can brains have minds? How can neural activity cause my sensation of red or my feeling of pain? The course will be multidisciplinary, drawing on information from the fields of computer vision, artificial intelligence, cognition, neurophysiology, philosophy, and psychophysics. During the first couple weeks I will provide a general introduction to the subject. Students will then choose book chapters on the mind/body problem (from the books by Blackmore and Hoffman), present these to the class, and lead discussions. The goal is for all involved to know the state of the field and the open problems by the end of the quarter.

GRADING

Your grade will be based on three measures: (1) Your oral presentation, (2) your participation in discussions, and (3) a final exam. I discuss each briefly. (1) Your grade for the oral presentation will be based on how well you master the material you present, how clearly you present its essence, and how penetratingly you critique its strengths and weaknesses. (2) You are, of course, expected to have read whatever material is the subject for discussion in each session, whether or not you are the primary presenter. Come prepared with questions for the discussion leader, critiques of the material, and general comments. To make sure that we all read the material, at the start of each class (beginning with lecture 6) I will give a short quiz, often just one multiple-choice question; you will need a classroom clicker (available at UCI Bookstore) to take the quiz. You will receive 1 point for any answer, 3 points for a correct answer. No makeups on quizzes. These points will count toward your participation.  (3) The final will be a 50-question multiple-choice exam. It will cover the books by Blackmore and Hoffman, and the information presented in the first five overview lectures. Concepts covered on the final are online here. The final will count 40%, your oral presentation will count 40%, and your participation in quizzes and discussions 20%.

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND READINGS

Lecture. Date: Topic

1. Tu 1/4: Overview of philosophy of mind, Notes, Interface Theory

2. Th 1/6: Overview of philosophy of mind, Conscious Realism Paper

3. Tu 1/11: Overview of philosophy of mind, Spectrum Inversion Paper

5. Tu 1/18: Overview of philosophy of mind, Conscious Realism Slideshow

7. Tu 1/25: Blackmore, 2004, Section 2, PowerPoint Presentation

8. Th 1/27: Blackmore, 2004, Section 3, PowerPoint Presentation

10. Th 2/3: Blackmore, 2004, Section 5, PowerPoint Presentation

11. Tu 2/8: Blackmore, 2004, Section 6, PowerPoint Presentation

12. Th 2/10: Blackmore, 2004, Section 7, PowerPoint Presentation

13. Tu 2/15: Blackmore, 2004, Section 8, PowerPoint Presentation

14. Th 2/17: Blackmore, 2004, Section 9, PowerPoint Presentation

16. Th 2/24: Hoffman, 1997, chapter 2

17. Tu 3/1: Hoffman, 1997, chapter 3

18. Th 3/3: Hoffman, 1997, chapter 4

19. Tu 3/8: Hoffman, 1997, chapter 5

20. Th 3/10: Hoffman, 1997, chapter 6,7

--- Tu 3/15, 4:00 --6:00 p.m., FINAL

Return to Hoffman's HomePage.