PSY 4200 - Contemporary Theories of Mind

3 cr. 3hr. Day course offered annually.

The purpose of this course is to give students the opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of the nature of psychology and problems with contemporary philosophical/psychological theories of mind. This course will focus on some of the philosophical problems of trying to develop a scientific account of mind and behavior. We will examine leading contemporary positions such as functionalism, eliminative materialism, cognitivism and biological naturalism and the strengths and shortcomings of those positions as we deal with such topics as the mind-body problem, intentionally, perception and action, and freedom of the will. At the end of this course, students will have developed a deep understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary theories of mind and behavior. This understanding will allow students to evaluate critically philosophical and psychological theories of mind, understand and question their own implicit assumptions about the nature of mind and behavior, and deepen their own understanding of human nature.

Prerequisite(s): PSY 3480