Philosophy 132

In this course, we will take up central problems concerning the nature of mind and examine contemporary approaches to these problems. We will ask the following questions: Can science explain consciousness? If not, can we still make sense of consciousness as part of the natural world? Can we make sense of thought as part of the natural world? What are we doing when we attribute thoughts to ourselves and to others? Are beliefs and desires real? Are they genuine causes of behavior? What role, if any, does our environment play in fixing the contents of our thoughts? And where is the mind anyway? Is it located where our brain or body is located, or does it extend beyond our body?