Students

PHIX262 – Body and Mind

2016 – SP3 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Jennifer Duke-Yonge
Tutor
Christopher McCarroll
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

General Assessment Information

Written assignments are to be submitted through Turnitin, and will be marked and returned via Grademark. For information about these tools, see:

http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm

There is no need for a coversheet - the iLearn assignment submission (Turnitin) involves declaring your details and honesty in submitting your work. Please note, we do not accept submission by email attachment. 

 

 

Extensions and Special Consideration

Requests for extensions must, normally, be made in writing before the due date. Extensions of up to three days should be directed  to the unit convenor (jennifer.duke-yonge@mq.edu.au).  Requests for extensions of more than 3 days should be submitted via a Disruption to Studies Request, which is available in the ask.mq.edu.au portal. Your request should be accompanied by appropriate documentation, as detailed in the instructions in the portal. Please see the Disruption to Studies policy in the list of policies at the end of this document for further details. 

Penalties for Late Submission

Late submissions of assignments will attract a penalty of 10% per week or part-week late. All work must be submitted within 3 weeks of the assessment due date. Outside of this time, special circumstances must be proven to have interrupted your study.

 

 If you are having problems completing an assignment, please contact your tutor or unit convenor through iLearn. 

 

See the "Policies and Procedures" section below for more detail about relevant policies.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Online quizzes 20% Weeks 1-11
Take-Home Essay exam 25% Midnight Sunday, Wk 7
Take-home essay exam 2 35% Midnight, Sunday Wk 13
Participation 20% Ongoing

Online quizzes

Due: Weeks 1-11
Weighting: 20%

There will be a quiz on the assigned reading/content due each week before 11.59pm Sunday of the relevant week, from week 1 to week 11. Each quiz will consist of one short answer question. The quiz will be accessible on iLearn from 9am Monday. You will have 10 minutes to answer the quiz once you begin; after 10 minutes, your answer will be saved.  Quizzes will be graded either 0 (did not complete), 1 (adequate),  or 2 (exceptional).  If you complete more than 10 quizzes out of the 11 that are available,  your best 10 will count. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Take-Home Essay exam

Due: Midnight Sunday, Wk 7
Weighting: 25%

The first essay exam will cover materials from week one to six. It will require answering three questions with short 500-word essays. The exam will be assigned on Monday of Week 6 and be due by midnight on Sunday of Week 7.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Take-home essay exam 2

Due: Midnight, Sunday Wk 13
Weighting: 35%

The final take-home essay exam will cover materials cumulatively from the course. It will require answering two questions with 1000 word essays. The exam will be assigned on Monday of Wk 12 and be due by midnight on Sunday of Wk 13


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Students must contribute weekly to the online discussion forums. That will consist in (a) writing at least one thoughtful question about the reading and/or lecture, and (b) engaging in constructive discussion of others' questions and comments. The tutor will also participate in these discussions from time to time, mainly in a facilitating and moderating role.Participation in the online form constitutes 20% of the overall grade. 

Forum posts should be made in a timely fashion. Posts added more than a week after the relevant week's content may not be counted for assessment purposes.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Delivery and Resources

READING

 

Readings for this unit are available online, with links from iLearn.  You must also get a copy of Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy (The Hackett edition, ISBN 0872201929, is available at the co-op bookshop but similar versions are available online).

You may optionally purchase Pete Mandik's This is Philosophy of Mind, which will provide supplementary background reading for several weeks. This book is also available to read online or digitally borrow through the library website.

The week's readings are listed on this unit guide and will also be listed each week on iLearn.

WEBSITE

The unit website is available through iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). It contains essential resources for the unit, and you are expected to log in on a regular basis.

You are expected to listen to the lectures, read the readings and lecture notes, participate online, and complete all assessments.

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Introduction Descartes, Meditation 1
Week 2: Dualism & its Problems 

Descartes, Meditation 6

Mandik, Ch2

Week 3: Behaviorism

Ryle, excerpt from The Concept of Mind

Fodor, excerpt 1 from The Language of Thought

Mandik Ch5

Week 4: Identity Theory

Smart “Sensations and Brain Processes”

Mandik Ch6

Week 5: Functionalism

Putnam “The Nature of Mental States”

Mandik Ch 8

Week 6: Cognitivism

Pinker “Rules of Language”

Simon “What is an ‘Explanation’ of Behavior?”

Week 7: Computation & Mind

Turing “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”

Searle “Can Computers Think?”

Mandik Ch7

Week 8: Nonreductive Physicalism

Fodor, excerpt 2 from The Language of Thought

Mandik Ch9

Week 9: Consciousness

Jackson “Epiphenomenal Qualia”

Chalmers “The Puzzle of Conscious Experience”

Mandik Ch14 (to p206)

Week 10: Consciousness and the Brain

Nagel “Brain Bisection and the Unity of Consciousness”

Week 11: Neuropsychology

Parkin, excerpt from Explorations in Cognitive Neuropsychology

Ramachandran “The Unbearable Likeness of Being”

Week 12: Review  

 

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.

You need to show that the circumstances:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.

If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.

If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2
  • Participation

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2
  • Participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour

Assessment tasks

  • Online quizzes
  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2
  • Participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an awareness of central problems in Philosophy of Mind
  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quizzes
  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2
  • Participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand and analyse arguments in the relevant literature
  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate these theories and arguments
  • Develop your own view or perspective through consideration and analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit, and to present your own views with clarity and rigour
  • Develop clarity of thought; clarity of verbal expression; clarity of written expression and exposition.

Assessment tasks

  • Online quizzes
  • Take-Home Essay exam
  • Take-home essay exam 2
  • Participation