PHIL 346/ PSYC 346: Minds, Brains,
and Computers
Offered by Sara Bernstein
MTWRF Chavez
104
Presession 2006
What is the mind? What is
the brain? Are the mind and the brain the same thing? What distinguishes humans
from robots? (Is there a
distinction?) Is "strong" AI possible? Can robots ever be conscious?
Can robots ever be free? Is your identity just your mind? Are there answers to
these questions? Are the philosophical answers different from the scientific
answers? This course will be an interdisciplinary overview of all of these
questions (and some of their answers.)
Course Text(s): Mindware, by Andy Clark, and numerous other readings on
e-reserve. Starred readings are required;
other readings are recommended.
Course Requirements:
One short paper, 3-4 pages,
due Monday, May 22:
30%
One short paper, 3-4 pages , due Tuesday, May 30: 30%
Cumulative final exam,
Saturday, June 3. 40%
See bottom for notes on
extra credit.
Monday, May 15: Introduction: The mind is a computer! (But what sort of
computer? Stay tuned!)
*(a) Mindware, Chapter 1.
The
Handout.
Tuesday, May 16: Minds
are symbol manipulation systems!
*(a) Mindware, Chapter 2.
(b) John Searle, "Minds,
Brains, and Programs"
The
Handout.
Wednesday, May 17: Minds
are representation factories!
*(a) Mindware, Chapter 3.
The
Handout.
Thursday, May 18: Minds
are connectionist networks!
*(a) Mindware, Chapter 4.
(b) "Connectionism,"
sections 6-9, entry, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The
Handout. The paper
topics.
Friday, May 19: Consciousness
is an easy problem! No, wait, it's a hard one.
*(a) David Chalmers, "Two Concepts of
Mind," from The Conscious Mind.
(e-reserve)
*(b) Thomas Nagel, "What is it like to be a
bat?" (e-reserve)
(c) "Consciousness,"
entry, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The
Handout.
Monday, May 22:
Consciousness, part deux. (First paper due.)
*(a) Mindware, Appendix II.
(b) Daniel Dennett, "True
Believers: The Intentional Strategy and Why it Works," from Mind Design
II. (e-reserve)
(c) David Chalmers, ÒConsciousness and its place in
NatureÓ
The
Handout.
Tuesday, May 23: This
just in: consciousness is still a hard problem.
(a) Frank Jackson, "Epiphenomenal Qualia" (e-reserve)
*(b) David Lewis, "What Experience Teaches,"
from Mind and Cognition. (e-reserve)
(c) Frank Jackson, "What Mary
Didn't Know." (e-reserve)
The
Handout.
Wednesday, May 24: The
mental is not the
physical! (Dualism)
(a) RenŽ Descartes, "Meditation
Six," in Meditations.
*(b) David Chalmers, "Naturalistic
Dualism," from The Conscious Mind. (e-reserve)
The
Handout.
Thursday, May 25: The
mental is the physical! (Nonreductive physicalism)
*(a)
David Lewis, pages 14-15, On the Plurality of Worlds. (Photocopy)
*(b) Terence Horgan, "From Supervenience to
Superdupervenience." (e-reserve).
(c) "Multiple
Realizability," entry, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The
Handout.
Friday, May 26: Situated
cognition. (Or: The mind, body, and
world are all one big, happy family!)
(a)
John Haugeland, "Mind Embodied and Embedded," from Having Thought. (e-reserve)
*(b) David Chalmers and Andy Clark, "The Extended Mind."
The
Handout.
The paper
topics.
Monday, May 29: Memorial
Day. No class.
Tuesday, May 30: Is
strong AI possible? (Second paper due.)
(a)
A.M. Turing, "Computing
Machinery and Intelligence."
*(b) John Searle, "Minds,
Brains, and Programs" (Again)
The
Handout.
Wednesday, May 31: Can
robots be conscious?
*(a)
Daniel Dennett, "The
Practical Requirements for Making a Conscious Robot."
*(b) Isaac Asimov, "Robbie," in I,
Robot. (e-reserve)
The
Handout.
Thursday, June 1: Can
robots have free will?
*(a)
Daniel Dennett, "Did HAL
Commit Murder?"
*(b) Margaret Boden, "Autonomy and
Artificiality," from The Philosophy of Artificial Life. (e-reserve)
(c)
Jack Copeland, ÒFreedom,Ó in Artificial Intelligence. (e-reserve)
The
Handout.
The Final
Exam Study Guide.
Friday, June 2: Fun with
thought experiments, review.
(a)
Daniel Dennett, "Where am I?"
(b)
David Sanford, "Where was I?," from The Mind's I. (e-reserve)
Saturday, June 3: Final Exam (Cumulative).
A few notes concerning:
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is representing
another person's work as one's own. Outside works must be clearly cited or
placed in quotes. Any cheating will be handled according to the university's policy on
academic dishonesty. Please see the student handbook for more information.
Extensions
Everyone is permitted one
24-hour paper extension. Extensions must be requested three days in advance.
Extra Credit
One short question about
the reading will be handed out in the first fifteen minutes of every day. It
will consist of one extremely simple, factual question about the reading. If you have done the reading, you
will know the answer to the question. If the question is answered correctly,
you will earn one extra percentage point of a grade (out of 100 points). Note
that you are allowed to pass on taking any or all of the quizzes; they are supererogatory.
The quizzes are meant to be extremely easy ways to earn points, as they test
(a) whether or not you have done the reading, and (b) whether or not you are in
class.
Syllabus Changes
It is possible that topics
will be added, removed, or changed on the syllabus. If this happens, it will be
announced in class and on the website.
Ways to Reach Sara, or
her Indistinguishable Robot Clone
Email
(by far the best way to reach me): saraphil346@gmail.com
Department
phone: (520) 621-3120 (during office hours)
Office Hours: MWF, 12-1, Social Sciences
130.