6. Philosophy of Mind and Science

In this module, we’ll begin by briefly covering the disciplines of Philosophy of MindA branch of Philosophy that seeks to understand the nature of the mind and the nature of consciousness. and Philosophy of ScienceA branch of Philosophy that studies the methods, principles, and assumptions of Science., and the differences and overlaps between them. Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Science are distinct disciplines, but they overlap in some areas and often inform one another. They both explore some of the most profound questions about human existence and understanding, such as the mind and consciousness.

Then we’ll explore René Descartes’ influential ideas about the mind and body. Moving on, we’ll look at David Chalmers’ so-called “problems of consciousness”. Finally, we’ll consider Thomas Kuhn’s groundbreaking work on paradigmA typical example, model, or pattern of something. shifts.