Do we have free-will? How are our minds related to our bodies? Can one prove that God exists? And other questions about what exists in the world.
The world is an awe-inspiring place. Socrates taught that if we want to live well here, we should understand the world as best we can. So in this paper, we learn to think about very general questions about the nature of reality. We try to formulate ideas and arguments as carefully as possible and then examine them for truth and persuasiveness. We get as clear as we can about 'big' topics that matter. How do we know: whether or not there is a god; what minds are and whether or not machines could have them; what constitutes freewill; and what constitutes personal identity.
| Paper title | Mind and Reality |
|---|---|
| Paper code | PHIL101 |
| Subject | Philosophy |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $955.05 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- This paper is open to all students.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Philosophy programme's website.
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator and lecturer: Professor James Maclaurin
- Paper Structure
- Structure:
- Arguments about Gods and Machines
- What are minds?
- What is personal identity?
- What is freewill?
- Two essays - 15% each
- Tutorial exercises - 10%
- Final exam - 60%
- Teaching Arrangements
- Two 50-minute lectures per week and one 50-minute tutorial per week.
- Textbooks
Course notes and readings are provided.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy,
Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will acquire:
- The ability to read and write philosophical texts
- Understanding of what philosophy is and how it is done
- The ability to identify and critically assess arguments
- A grasp of key ideas about mind and reality
