Postgraduate Module Descriptor

PHLM007: Current Issues in Mind and Cognition

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

You will learn about current approaches to long-standing problems in the philosophy of mind, including questions concerning the nature of perception, cognition, and emotion, and come to understand the conceptual and theoretical frameworks that underpin competing answers to these problems. You will examine how the philosophy of mind is informed by, and informs, the sciences of the mind, and learn to evaluate recent work in the field and to articulate your own ideas with precision and clarity.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Understand a range of different current research topics in the philosophy of mind 2. Analyse and evaluate current research methods in a rigorous, informed and critical way 3. Learn how philosophical research is informed by, and informs, the empirical study of the mind
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Appreciate the ways in which philosophical topics are situated in a social and scientific context 5. Critically and rigorously evaluate a range of different philosophical styles and approaches 6. Reflect critically upon the relationship between philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science
Personal and Key Skills	7. Engage in complex arguments verbally and in small groups 8. Critically engage with written texts in a clear and rigorous way 9. Present complex ideas to peers and respond to questions in a clear and respectful manner

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

- Perception and the senses

- Phenomenology

- The philosophy of psychology and psychiatry

- Emotion & affectivity

- The metaphysics of mind

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars. The module will be taught as a series of two-hour seminars, organised around open-ended discussion of pre-assigned readings.
Guided Independent Study	66	11 x 6 hours for seminar readings
Guided Independent Study	12	Preparation of seminar presentation
Guided Independent Study	100	Reading for and writing of essay 1
Guided Independent Study	100	Reading for and writing of essay 2

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).