PHI 352 Special Topics: Philosophy of Mind

Final Take-Home Assignment

(Due to me in my office by Thursday, Dec. 16 at 5pm)

Problems, problems, and more problems…

For this assignment, we’ll focus not on theories in the philosophy of mind, but rather on problems.  In addition to the age-old mind-body problem, we spent parts of the semester discussing:

(1) The Problem of Mental Causation

(2) The Hard Problem of Consciousness

(3) The Problem of Intentionality

(4) The Problem of Other Minds

In a paragraph or two apiece, present each of these other four problems in turn, explaining exactly why they are so problematic.

Then spend a couple of paragraphs explaining how these problems might relate to one another.  What are the various connections that can be made between them?

Finally, take two of these problems in particular, and describe, in your own opinion, the most promising way or ways in which they might be resolved… or dissolved.