John Spackman

Philosophy of Mind
What is the nature of the mind, and how does it relate to the body and the physical world? Could computers ever think? Do animals have mental and emotional lives? This course will explore several of the major recent philosophical conceptions of the mind. A central focus will be on evaluating various attempts to explain the mind in purely physical terms, including the project of artificial intelligence (AI). Can these theories give us a complete understanding of the mind? Other key questions will include: What is the nature of thought, and how is it capable of representing the world? What is consciousness, and can it be explained physically? 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.

Philosophy of Language
Speaking a language is a complex form of behavior that plays a rich and varied role in human life. The philosophy of language seeks to give a philosophical account of this phenomenon, focusing on such questions as: How does language gain meaning? How does meaning relate to truth and reference? What is conveyed by different speech acts? In the Public Humanities Lab component of the course, students will apply their understanding of these themes to case studies involving issues such as free speech, linguistic oppression and silencing, the meaning of terms for gender and race, and truth in political speech. Readings will include works by Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, and contemporary journal articles. (Previous course in philosophy or waiver.) 3 hrs lect.

Concepts: The Stuff of Thought
Concepts are often regarded as “the stuff of thought”: they allow us to categorize the world, learn about it, and navigate through it. But what are they, and how do they relate to reality? In this course we will examine prominent contemporary philosophical theories of concepts, drawing as well on readings from cognitive science and neuroscience. Possible topics include: Is it possible to define concepts? How are they mentally represented? Is reality relative to conceptual schemes? Do concepts give us knowledge of reality or hinder our awareness of it? Is perception nonconceptual? Do animals have concepts? (Junior and senior majors, or by waiver.) 3 hrs. sem.

Senior Independent Research
In this course senior philosophy majors will complete an independent research project. The course has two components: (1) a group workshop in which students refine their research skills and develop parts of their projects, and (2) individual meetings with an adviser who is knowledgeable about the student's research topic. Students will engage in research activities such as tutorials and peer reviews. Before the course begins, students’ research topics and advisers will be decided in consultation with members of the department. (Senior majors.) 3 hrs. sem.

Consciousness
In this course we will focus on contemporary philosophical issues in the study of consciousness, drawing as well on recent research in neuroscience and psychology, and on the insights of traditional Buddhist accounts of consciousness. Questions to be addressed include: What is the nature of our conscious subjective experience, and how does it relate to self-awareness? Does consciousness create a “grand illusion,” or does it represent the world correctly? Can we find the neural correlates of consciousness? Can consciousness be reduced to matter, or must we view it as non-physical? Readings will be drawn from contemporary philosophers and scientists such as Daniel Dennett, David Chalmers, and Antonio Damasio.