Philosophy and
Neuroethics
Lecture 1: Philosophy of mind
Mind
The mind is a quite special thing - somehow different from our arms, legs, heart, or
liver. The mind seems to be an excellent candidate for what make us the person we are.
As such, the mind is the subject of various sciences ( e.g., psychology).
The term 'mind' is commonly used as an umbrella term referring to all states, processes,
events, and capacities that we call 'mental':
• Perceptions (seeing, • Beliefs ('Paris is the • Reasoning ('If X, then
smelling, hearing) capital of France') Y')
• Bodily sensations • Desires ('I want ice • Memory &
(hunger, thirst, pain) cream') Imagination
• Emotions (anger, • Intentions ('I will
love, grief) move to Amsterdam')
This is still a quite vague and to some degree circular characterization
Philosophy of the mind
The central aim of philosophy of mind is to:
• define what the mind is • define which properties mental
• define who we consider to be states can have (e.g., conscious vs.
minded (e.g., adult humans, infants, unconscious)
machines, animals) • study the internal structure of the
• define what individual mental states mind (e.g., relation between
are (e.g., beliefs, emotions, perception and beliefs)
imagination) • fathom the possibility to explain the
mind in scientific terms
,
,
,
Neuroethics
Lecture 1: Philosophy of mind
Mind
The mind is a quite special thing - somehow different from our arms, legs, heart, or
liver. The mind seems to be an excellent candidate for what make us the person we are.
As such, the mind is the subject of various sciences ( e.g., psychology).
The term 'mind' is commonly used as an umbrella term referring to all states, processes,
events, and capacities that we call 'mental':
• Perceptions (seeing, • Beliefs ('Paris is the • Reasoning ('If X, then
smelling, hearing) capital of France') Y')
• Bodily sensations • Desires ('I want ice • Memory &
(hunger, thirst, pain) cream') Imagination
• Emotions (anger, • Intentions ('I will
love, grief) move to Amsterdam')
This is still a quite vague and to some degree circular characterization
Philosophy of the mind
The central aim of philosophy of mind is to:
• define what the mind is • define which properties mental
• define who we consider to be states can have (e.g., conscious vs.
minded (e.g., adult humans, infants, unconscious)
machines, animals) • study the internal structure of the
• define what individual mental states mind (e.g., relation between
are (e.g., beliefs, emotions, perception and beliefs)
imagination) • fathom the possibility to explain the
mind in scientific terms
,
,
,
