2018-2019 / PHIL0214-2

Philosophy of mind

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in philosophy (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Arnaud Dewalque

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course (30h Th) aims at critically discussing one classical book of philosophy of mind, broadly construed. In 2018-19, set book is Franz Brentano's Psychology from an empirical standpoint. Without belonging properly speaking to the tradition of analytic philosophy of mind, this book opened up important research perspectives on the study of mind and mental phenomena. Emphasis will be put on the reconstruction, reception, and critical discussion of Brentano's main claims and arguments.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students are supposed to understand the main issues at stake in the book under discussion.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Bachelor in Philosophy.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Each class will be based upon the reading of one chapter of the set book (see schedule) and will be structured as follows:

  • Contextualization from contemporary texts
  • Reconstruction of the author's claims and arguments in the chapter
  • Critical discussion
Support: a handout (in English) will be made available for each class.
Students are asked to:
  • read the relevant chapter before each class
  • take part to the critical discussion of the author's claims

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Recommended or required readings

Set book (required for the classes):

  • Franz Brentano, Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint. Engl. trans. by A. C. Rancurello et al. London: Routledge. 1973. 2nd ed. 1995 (original German edition: Psychologie vom empirischen Standpunkte, Leipzig, Duncker & Humblot, 1874; 1911; rééditions : Hamburg, Meiner, 1924 ; Sämtliche veröffentlichte Schriften, Bd. 1, Frankfurt, Ontos Verlag, 2008).

Assessment methods and criteria

Participants are asked to choose one of the two following assessment modalities:
1/ Class participation (25%) + oral exam on the whole course content (75%).
2/ Class participation (25%) + personal paper (75%). The paper will consist either in discussing one of the chapters of the book from a new perspective, either in exploring one philosophical issue tied to the reception of the book. Paper will be assessed as follows:

  • oral presentation of the paper (25%)
  • written revised version of the paper (3000 words/10 pages, 50%)
Schedule will be determined with participants.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

See schedule.

Contacts

Teacher Arnaud Dewalque Dpt of Philosophy 7, Place du 20-août, Building A1/2nd floor B-4000 Liège Phone 0032 (4) 366 55 93 E-mail a.dewalque@ulg.ac.be