Minds and Machines

A philosophy of mind course

This class introduces philosophy of mind, the branch concerned with what minds are and how they relate to brains. Its questions range from whether computers can think to whether consciousness can be given a scientific explanation.

Thoughts about things

One thread concerns intentionality: how thoughts can be about things at all, such as a person thinking about a philosopher from centuries ago. Another asks whether perception gives us ordinary objects as they really are, which connects the mind to older debates about reality.

Who should read it

Readers new to philosophy who want a structured entry point into questions that bridge philosophy, cognitive science and computing. The questions are deliberately open-ended, so expect to weigh competing answers rather than receive a single verdict.

• The mind-body question and the idea that the mind works like a program.
• How thoughts come to be about things.
• Whether perception reveals the world as it is.