PHIL 100 : Mind, Knowledge, and Reality

Arts

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Metaphysics deals with fundamental problems about the nature of the world and human beings, for example, questions about the existence of God, the nature of time, the relationship between mind and body and the nature of identity and the self. The theory of knowledge studies the sources, limits and justification of human knowledge and understanding as distinct from opinion or belief.

Course Overview

This course critically considers fundamental philosophical problems and puzzles about the nature of the world and human beings. Examples include philosophical questions about the existence of God, the relationship between physical reality and mental life and the nature of identity and the self. The theory of knowledge studies philosophical problems concerning the sources, limits and justification of human knowledge and understanding (particularly, as distinct from mere opinion or belief). The course also introduces students to a selection of such topics and to some of the important philosophical discussions and debates to which they have given rise.

There will be three parts, each of which will be 4 four weeks long:
(1) Plato and Descartes
(2) What do we know and how do we know it?
(3) Minds, Computers and Evolution

The first part of the course, taught by Robert Wicks, will discuss critically the difference between mythology and philosophy, how Plato believes that the absolute truth is timeless and unchanging, Descartes’s quest for what cannot be doubted, his famous phrase, “I think, therefore I am,” his proofs that God exists, as well as his proposition that our minds survive the death of our bodies. The second part of the course, taught by Emily Parke, will discuss historical and contemporary philosophical debates about knowledge, such as how we understand cause-and-effect relationships in the natural world around us, about the nature of knowledge itself, and about how philosophy and science intersect and interact. The third part of the course, taught by Raamy Majeed, will discuss how the mind might fit into the natural world, whether computers can think, and what role evolution might have played in shaping the human mind.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Read, critically evaluate, and write about classical and contemporary philosophical texts (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1)
  2. Reflect seriously upon the nature of scientific knowledge (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  3. Understand the philosophical relationships between minds and computers (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1)
  4. Critically evaluate various arguments for God's existence and the survival of our minds after our bodies die (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  5. Explain the difference between mythology and philosophy (Capability 1.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 20% Individual Coursework
Essay 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Examination

No plussage.  During the semester there will be one or more online, short-answer tests that will not count towards the final grade, but will help identify main themes as well as help gauge one's progress throughout the course.

Next offered

2022.  This course is offered every year.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. For this course, there will be 24 hours of lectures, 11 hours of tutorials, with the added expectation of 8 hours of reading and thinking about the content per week in conjunction with 19 hours of work applied to the two 1,000 word essays (=150 hours for a 15 point course).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at all scheduled activities including tutorials.

All lectures will be available as recordings. Some tutorials may be available as recordings.

Attendance on campus is required for the final exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable: two hours of lecture per week, divided between two meetings; one hour of tutorial per week.

Learning Resources

All of the course materials will be provided online.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 22/12/2020 04:46 p.m.