This course offers an advanced approach to philosophy and is suitable for students who have a strong background in philosophy. What is taught will change from year to year.
In 2023, PHIL3074 will focus on The Problems of Consciousness
The existence of consciousness poses one of the most pervasive puzzles in philosophy. The fact that we are conscious seems undeniable. Whether it be pangs of pain, feelings of love or the visual experience of a sunset, consciousness pervades our everyday life. Despite the ubiquity of conscious experiences, philosophers and scientists alike have faced a number of difficult challenges investigating the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the world around us. The aim of this unit will be to explore a number of these challenges and the proposed solutions to them. The unit will cover three major themes in the philosophy of consciousness. The first theme will explore foundational questions about the nature of consciousness. We will address questions such as what is consciousness, which mental states are conscious and how mental states become conscious. The second theme will critically investigate the infamous compatibility problem between consciousness and the physical world. This will include questions such as whether there is a viable physical explanation of consciousness, whether conscious is an illusion and whether consciousness is a fundamental ingredient of our world. The third and final theme will explore recent developments in the scientific and normative study of consciousness. We will address topics such as how we study animal consciousness, the relationship between dreaming and consciousness, whether artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT could ever be conscious and whether consciousness itself makes life worth living.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand and articulate the material covered in the course;
- argue for a philosophical position related to the material covered in the course; and
- display critical thinking skills in writing research papers in philosophy.
Indicative Assessment
- Two x 2,500 word essays (45% each) (90) [LO 1,2,3]
- Class participation (10) [LO 1,2]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of workshop and workshop-like activities.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Readings will be made available online through Wattle.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
