(1) Donald Davidson, Essays on Actions and Events (1980) [D]
(2) Colin McGinn, The Character of Mind (1982)
(3) David M. Rosenthal (ed.), The Nature of Mind (1991) [R]
(4) Donald Davidson, `The Structure and Content of Truth', The Journal of Philosophy Vol. 88, 1990, pp. 309-328 (=Part 3 only). [Copies available on reserve, or from Department of Philosophy]

Course requirements:

(1) Three take-home essay exams, due on dates indicated below. Each of the exams will count for 25% of the grade. None of the exams will be comprehensive. [Note: late exams will be accepted only in very special circumstances and, save in extraordinary circumstances, will be subject to grade penalty.]

(2) A carefully argued philosophical paper, interpretative and critical in character, and 8-10 pages (2000-2500 words) in length. A one-page prospectus (with bibliography) must be approved in advance (by 14 April). Deadline for receipt of papers is the next-to-last meeting of the class, 28 April. The paper will count for 15% of the grade. [Note: late papers, if accepted at all, will be subject to grade penalty.]

(3) Regular attendance, timely (and close) reading of reading assignments, and effective participation in discussion: counts for 10% of grade.

Tentative syllabus:

Jan 13 Introductory remarks

Jan 15 Criteria for the mental, and a preliminary taxonomy [2]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 1; (2) Descartes selections [R 21-37]; (3) Chisholm `Intentional Inexistence' [R 297-303]

Jan 22 Mind/Body Problem [7]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chaps 2 and 3; (2) Smart `Sensations and Brain Processes' [R 169-76]; (3) Descartes selections [R 21-37]; (4) Davidson `Mental Events' [D 207-25 or R 247-56]; (5) Putnam `The Nature of Mental States' [R 197- 203]; (6) Nagel `What is it Like to be a Bat?' [R 422-28]

Feb 17 FIRST EXAMINATION DUE
Acquaintance with particulars: perception, introspection, self-awareness [4]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 4; (2) Chisholm `The Status of Appearances' [R 380-4]; (3) Jackson `The Existence of Mental Objects' [R 385-91]

Mar 3 Thought: The Language of Thought Hypothesis [3]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 6 (pp. 83-97); (2) Fodor `Propositional Attitudes' [R 325-38]

Mar 12 Interpretation: Belief, Desire, Meaning [4]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 4 (pp. 97-106) and Chap 5; (2) Davidson `Thought and Talk' [R 363-71]; (3) Davidson `The Structure and Content of Truth' (copy)

Apr 2 SECOND EXAMINATION DUE
Cognitive Science [3]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 7; (2) Fodor `Methodological Solipsism Considered as a Research Strategy in Cognitive
Psychology' [R 485-98]; (3) Dennett `Three Kinds of Intentional Psychology' [R 613-26]

Apr 14 PROSPECTUS OF PAPER DUE
Action and Intention [3]

Readings: (1) McGinn Chap 5; (2) Davidson `Actions, Reasons and Causes' [D 3-19]; (3) Davidson `Intending' [D 83-102]

Apr 23 The Self [2]

Reading: McGinn Chap 9
[NOTE: DEADLINE FOR PAPER, APRIL 28]

Apr 30 Conclusions? [1]

Reading: McGinn `Epilogue'

May 11 THIRD EXAMINATION DUE (5:00 pm, Dept of Philosophy)

Office Hours (3050 Wescoe): Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00-3:30, or by appointment.

Notes:

(1) Students are reminded of university policies concerning academic misconduct. For cases of plagiarism or cheating the exam or paper in question will be graded at 0 points on a 100-point scale.

(2) It is the student's responsibility to make formal arrangements for withdrawal from the course should the student wish not to complete the course requirements. The grade of `I' will be assigned only for good cause, and only upon request from the student; the grade of `I' will not be assigned automatically if work is not completed by specified deadlines.