161-440 Philosophical Psychology

Formerly available as 161-043. Students who have completed 161-043 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in philosophy.

A traditional definition has it that a person is an individual substance of a rational kind. This subject investigates questions arising from these requirements, for example: Could social groups be primary and individual humans secondary? Could a person be a mere bundle of mental items or of atoms, and not an organic unity? Could the vocabulary of thought and sense be dispensed with to suit the requirements of an impersonal scientific world view? How does madness fit into the rationality requirement? Do answers to these questions have anything to do with how we ought to live?

• develop the ability to analyse and criticize complex arguments;

• develop the ability to communicate the results of their work in a clear and well-argued form;

• develop the ability to bring philosophical skills to bear upon problems in other areas.

A 5000-word essay 100% (due at the end of semester).