Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- Intensive
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Historical & Philosophical Inq
What is it to be a thinking and speaking being? Could one think without the capacity for language, or vice versa? Thinking and speaking a language are often heralded as definitively human characteristics. But what are these characteristics and how do they relate to one another? Are thought and talk capacities that could be automated? What, if anything, does the fact that we are moral beings have to do with our capacity for thought and talk? This course looks at these questions from a philosophical perspective, by looking at arguments about what kind of criteria we can use to ascertain whether something is thinking and how linguistic evidence fits into our picture of mind, as well as how language connects us to and shapes our actions and interactions with others within the world around us.
Minds are pretty odd things when you compare them to the rest of the natural world. They not only participate in the bump and grind of causal interactions but do so consciously, intentionally, and with a certain subjective feel. The very fact that thoughts and utterancesﾠare 'about' things in the world (have 'intentionality') is unique to themﾠ(rocks are not about anything!) And what aboutﾠall those conscious feelings? Why isn't it enough to have mechanisms that protect us from imminent danger? Why does it also have toﾠbe painful? Minds seem very private things--what goes on in your head is not the same as what goes on in the heads of others. But maybe minds are more public and out there than we think. Does the fact that we have bodies and interact with one another have nothing to do with what and how we think? Somehowﾠthis thinking business gets communicated to others throughﾠlanguage,ﾠwhich helps us form social groups and solve coordination problems. But is language just the communication of thought? Do we only say what we think or could it be the other way round, that we mean what we say (and because of what we say)?ﾠCouldﾠthe way we think and speakﾠbe a political issue? Are there things we couldn't think or say because of social and political forces? These are some of the questions we will consider in this course and they are pretty darn fundamental.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
No background in Philosophy is required for this course. All students are toﾠenrol in the free, open-access course META101x: Philosophy and Critical Thinking on the edx.org platform. Register and then search for Philosophy and Critical Thinking (the logo is a sunflower--beats me!) Working through modules 1 and 2 will familiarise you with the critical thinking skills and the philosophy of mind you'll need to get started.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy articles on consciousness, intentionality, and reference are also useful, though they are quite long at 99 pages total. They are easily found by googling 'consciousness stanford encyclopedia of philosophy' etc. They are not required reading, but they're good surveys of the conceptual terrain if you're feeling lost.
ﾠ
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PHIL2050; PHIL2010
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Mr Jacob Tangleroyal
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This intensively taught course meets over 2 weeks: December 2, 4 and 6, and January 6, 8, and 10. On each of these days it meets for 4 hours per day, 9-1 with Coffee Club beforehand at Merlo's and a break in the middle. All classes meet in Forgan Smith 1-W332 (Law School upper level).
Aims and outcomes
The aims of this course are to:
1. Introduce students to central debates in the sub-fields, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, deepening students' philosophical understanding of the nature of mind, the nature of language, and their interconnection, and with a view to how this philosophical debate informs work being done in cognate fields like psychology, cognitive neuroscience and social linguistics.
2. Assist students in developing fundamental 21st century skills such as critical and creative thinking, writing and communication, problem-solving and decision-making, and interpersonal understanding and interaction.
3. Guide students in developing a normative appreciation of philosophical research into mind and language through reflection on their social and political dimensions.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Analyse, understand and explain a range of perspectives on the nature of mind and language and their interconnection from a philosophical perspective, with input from cognitive neuroscience.
LO2.
Communicate your ideas through the construction of rationally persuasive arguments in dialogue with peers and teaching staff and in well articulated 'thesis defence' presentation formats.
LO3.
Apply skills in critical and creative thinking to identify hidden assumptions in the views presented in the literature, to generate new critical questions and discover new problems and solutions.
LO4.
Define a topic carefully; demonstrate a capacity for critical and reflective analysis, synthesis, explanation, and evaluation of a philosophical debate; and offer a justification for a conclusion that reflects your own reasoned perspective about a philosophical problem.
LO5.
Demonstrate an understanding of the normative aspects of thinking and speaking a language, including the social and political dimension of language.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Participation in workshop activities
|
30% |
2/12/2024 1:00 pm 4/12/2024 1:00 pm 8/11/2024 1:00 pm 6/01/2025 1:00 pm 8/01/2025 1:00 pm 10/01/2025 1:00 pm
Participation will be measured across the whole 4 hours of each class meeting. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Nutshell 1: Argument analysis, explanation and evaluation
|
10% |
5/12/2024 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Nutshell 2: Argument analysis, explanation and evaluation
|
20% |
13/12/2024 2:00 pm
N.B: Any assessment item worth 15% or more must be completed and submitted to obtain a passing grade in the course according to policy. |
| Presentation | Pitch thesis proposal to small group | 5% |
10/01/2025 1:00 pm
The pitch event will be conducted within the 4 hour teaching block on this day. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Final Essay
|
35% |
24/01/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Participation in workshop activities
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
2/12/2024 1:00 pm
4/12/2024 1:00 pm
8/11/2024 1:00 pm
6/01/2025 1:00 pm
8/01/2025 1:00 pm
10/01/2025 1:00 pm
Participation will be measured across the whole 4 hours of each class meeting.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Participation involves participation in a community of inquiry and workshop activities. Students will be assessed on their ability to critically analyse and evaluate arguments and contribute to a community of inquiry--i.e., work collaboratively to develop coherent positions on the key topics in the field.
N.B: Any assessment item worth 15% or more must be completed and submitted to obtain a passing grade in the course according to policy. This includes the participation assessment.
This assessment task is to be completed in person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted nor will they be of any help. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Students will be assessed in class time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extensions or alternative assessment granted only for medical or similar emergencies and students must contact lecturer before the class to arrange alternative assessments.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Nutshell 1: Argument analysis, explanation and evaluation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
5/12/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students are required in the December week to complete TWO nutshell assignments involving the identification, analysis, explanation and evaluation of arguments. This the first assignment of (400) words is worth 10% of the final grade.
This assessment task evaluates student's abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Applications for extensions based on medical or other serious grounds must be submitted to the School of Historical andPhilosophical Inquiry prior to the due date.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late work will be deducted 10% of the mark per day for 7 days. Work submitted >7 days (including weekends) after due date will not be assessed.
Nutshell 2: Argument analysis, explanation and evaluation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
13/12/2024 2:00 pm
N.B: Any assessment item worth 15% or more must be completed and submitted to obtain a passing grade in the course according to policy.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students are required in the December week to complete TWO nutshell assignments involving the identification, analysis, explanation and evaluation of arguments. This the second assignment of (600) words is worth 20% of the final grade.
N.B: Any assessment item worth 15% or more must be completed and submitted to obtain a passing grade in the course according to policy.
This assessment task evaluates student's abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn assignment on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Applications for extensions based on medical or other serious grounds must be submitted to the School of Historical andPhilosophical Inquiry prior to the due date.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late work will be deducted 10% of the mark per day for 7 days. Work submitted >7 days (including weekends) after due date will not be assessed.
Pitch thesis proposal to small group
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
10/01/2025 1:00 pm
The pitch event will be conducted within the 4 hour teaching block on this day.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This is a three part task. First, each student in turn gives a 3-minute presentation to their small group in class outlining their thesis and research and argument strategy. This is followed by other students asking questions designed to help the project along for up to 5 minutes. Finally, the student writes up to 150 words reflecting on what they learned from the experience and any effect it has had on their research or argumentation strategy to be submitted to Turnitin that evening by 23.59 (11.59pm).
This assessment task is to be completed in part in person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit 150 word reflection by 23:59 on January 10.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late submission of the reflection will be deducted 10% of the mark per day for 7 days. Work submitted >7 days (including weekends) after due date will not be assessed.
Final Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
24/01/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students are asked to choose one question and prepare a thesis defence essay of 1500 words (including in-text references but excluding bibliographical information). Responses should be structured so as to ensure that they contain:
1. An adequate definition or explanation of the topic or problem
2. An analysis of at least two competing theoretical solutions to the problem and evaluation of their relative merits, and
3. Evidence of critical reasoning and reflection-- i.e. good arguments, representing the student's own position on the topic.
N.B: Any assessment item worth 15% or more must be completed and submitted to obtain a passing grade in the course according to policy.
Further information about structure is available on the Final Essay Task Sheet on Blackboard.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin assignment on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Applications for extensions based on medical or other serious grounds must be submitted to the School of Historical andPhilosophical Inquiry prior to the due date.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late work will be deducted 10% of the mark per day for 7 days. Work submitted >7 days (including weekends) after due date will not be assessed.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | <p>0</p> - |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade X: No assessable work received.� Grade 1, Low Fail (0-24%), is generally awarded in cases where some assessment has been submitted, but it is of wholly unsatisfactory standard or quantity. In work submitted, however, there is no demonstrated evidence of understanding of the concepts of the field of study or basic requirements of the course.�</p> |
| 2 (Fail) | - |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade 2, Fail (25-44%), is generally awarded to work that exhibits deficiencies in understanding and applying the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study, and as such, does not satisfy the basic requirements of the course. Often, one or more major items of assessment will not have been completed.�</p> |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: <p>Grade 3, Marginal Fail (45-49%), is generally awarded if a student has submitted work that attempts to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the course, but is only able to demonstrate a superficial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. Students will usually have attempted all major pieces of assessment and show that they have an identifiable, emerging ability to apply basic knowledge and skills.�</p> |
| 4 (Pass) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade 4, Pass (50-64%), is generally awarded where all major items of assessment have been submitted. An adequate knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study should be demonstrated and a functional skill level achieved.�</p> |
| 5 (Credit) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade 5, Credit (65-74%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and a substantial understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course and field of study have been demonstrated.�</p> |
| 6 (Distinction) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade 6, Distinction (75-84%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and substantial knowledge of the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been demonstrated.�</p> |
| 7 (High Distinction) | - |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>Grade 7, High Distinction (85-100%), is generally awarded where all items of assessment have been completed and there is evidence that the deeper and more complex aspects of the course and field of study have been mastered.�</p> |
Additional course grading information
ﾠUNDERGRADUATE
ﾠ
PERCENTAGE RANGE
ﾠﾠ
Grade X
No Assessable Work
Grade 1
0-24%
Grade 2
25-44%
Grade 3
45 – 49%
Grade 4
50 – 64%
Grade 5
65 – 74%
Grade 6
75 – 84%
Grade 7
85 – 100%
ﾠSupplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Failure to submit all major assessment items (those worth 15% and above) will result in a maximum grade of 2 (Fail).
- By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration: ‘I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment’.
- All students must ensure that they receive their Turnitin receipt on every submission of assessment items. YOU MUST CHECK THAT THE RECEIPT CONFIRMS THAT SUBMISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
- A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing.
-
Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after 7 calendar days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible so that they can confirm the outage with ITS.
- It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are submitting assessment items on a device that is capable of the task, and that appropriate internet bandwidth and speed is available. If you cannot be sure that your device or internet will enable you to complete or submit an assessment task, you must come onto campus and use one of the University Computers in the Library or Computer Labs.
- Plagiarism, and asking or paying someone else to do your work is cheating and constitutes academic misconduct. See ECP Section 6.1
- Feedback against the assessment criteria in the form of comments on your script will be provided through Turnitin or on your script directly.
- For information on assessment remarks see: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-re
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
See Blackboard site and Talis for more information about lecture content, workshop structure, assessment, and learning resources.
For those new to Philosophy, essay writing guides contain useful information about how to research and write a philosophy essay. See for example the Harvard guide to writing a philosophy essay atﾠhttps://philosophy.fas.harvard.edu/files/phildept/files/brief_guide_to_writing_philosophy_paper.pdf.
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Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 2 (02 Dec - 08 Dec) |
Workshop |
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind and Language: The mind-body problem and philosophical perspectives on A.I. (December 2, 2024) In the first half, we introduce some fundamentals of philosophy of mind including various -isms which give us a rough map of the mind-body problem in its traditional and contemporary forms. In the second half we explore philosophical responses to claims of strong artificial intelligence--i.e., addressing the question whether machines think. Do A.I systems like ChatGPT or robots that mimic humans in language production or intelligent behaviour think? We further explore Searle's famous Chinese Room Thought Experiment as a critique of strong A.I claims. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Consciousness. (December 4, 2024.) Fundamentals in philosophy of consciousness are introduced including problems related to the function of subjective experiences like pain and animal consciousness. Short texts will be analysed in groups, and students will reconstruct arguments and critically evaluate them. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Workshop |
Enactive, embodied, embedded, and extended cognition. (December 6, 2024) Are thought and consciousness 'in the head' or are they extended throughout the body and the natural and social world? This lecture examines the debates about externalism in the philosophy of mind with implications for the science and neuroscience of consciousness. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Week 6 (06 Jan - 12 Jan) |
Workshop |
Meaning and Reference (January 6, 2025) In this workshop we examine the fundamentals of language, including how the meaning of linguistic items is determined and what speakers mean when they use language. How do our words and thoughts manage to hook us up to the world? And how do we manage to talk about things beyond what we can point to in the world? Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Use theories of Language (January 8, 2025) Can language be defined in terms of the grammar of the language and the set of lexical items it contains or is there something more to language? Do we just use language to convey information to others? How do we make sense of linguistic phenomena such as irony or malapropisms? This workshop looks at the multifarious uses to which language is put and the idea that speaking a language is fundamentally an ability to perform a variety of speech acts. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Workshop |
Political speech and silencing (January 10, 2025) If speech is an action, are there circumstances in which it should be regulated? In this workshop we look at the political dimension of speech and the nature and moral implications of hate speech. In this workshop, time will also be allocated for students to pitch their research strategy and initial ideas about their final assignment to peers and staff to receive feedback and refine their final piece of assessment. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
See Blackboard site for more information about these topics. Topics 1-4 will be delivered in the week in December, topics 5-8 in the week in January. See Talis for reading resources.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.