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Mind and World
Undergraduate | MAQ-PHIX131 | 2019
Course information for 2019 intake
Open your mind to philosophical arguments about identity, human nature and the meaning of life. Pry into what makes individual human beings unique. Position the concept of free will against determinism. Join in arguments by 20th century key thinkers.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- -
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Mind and World
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- You will be able to identify key philosophical problems about the relationship between mind and world at an introductory level
- You will be able to explain important philosophical responses to problems about the relationship between mind and world at an introductory level
- You will be able to critically and reflectively respond to the problems and theories introduced in the subject
- You will be able to express and defend your own views with increased clarity
- You will be able to contribute to the learning of the group by engaging constructively in philosophical discussion and activities
- General Introduction
- Descartes on knowledge and understanding
- Descartes on the nature of the mind
- The self and personal identity
- Personal Identity - Do I survive?
- Identity and Bodies
- Identity - Multiple Personality
- Free Will and Determinism
- Topics in contemporary Philosophy of Mind
This subject was previously known as PHI130 Mind, Meaning and Metaphysics.
The subject introduces the big philosophical questions about human nature, personal identity and the meaning of life. What is the fundamental nature of reality? Are human beings somehow unique in nature? Do we have distinct selves that endure through time? What is the relation between our identity and the things that matter to us? We take a broadly historical approach, reading the classic philosophical texts as well as contemporary work. Three themes recur across the subject: the relation of mind and body, the quest for knowledge, and the nature of the self. We begin with conceptions of the mind at the dawn of the modern period, asking whether mind is entirely physical or could in principle survive bodily death. We also explore the links between the self, time, and memory. We then introduce some key thinkers of the twentieth century; and we explore their views on freedom, lived experience, and our relations to others. The subject as a whole offers a detailed introduction to controversial questions about the nature of the mind, showing how historical understanding animates current debates, and demonstrating the relevance of philosophy to live modern issues about science, human nature, and culture.
- Assessment (30%)
- Essay (40%)
- Participation (20%)
- Quiz (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MAQ-PHI130 (Not currently available)
Others
If you have no prior university experience, you should complete BAR100 Academic Learning Skills or COM10006 Academic Literacies: Learning and Communication Practice before starting this subject.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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