Students
PHIL3063 – Consciousness and Self
2025 – Session 1, Online-flexible
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Adam Hochman
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores some of the major traditions in Philosophical and Scientific thinking about Consciousness and the Self. The unit introduces core questions concerning what consciousness is: What can we know about consciousness through scientific enquiry? How can a physical system, such as the brain, be conscious? How do we situate consciousness in a social and cultural context? The unit also introduces philosophical and scientific thinking about the self and introduces questions including: Is there really such a thing as a Self? Is the self narratively constructed? What is the relationship between the self and others? |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science, phenomenology and philosophy.
- ULO2: Articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments in written and oral form to a variety of audiences.
- ULO3: Analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
- ULO4: Apply acquired knowledge and skills in the context of philosophical and cognitive science scholarship.
- ULO5: Explain and critically evaluate evidence from a broad range of disciplines including cognitive science, psychology, phenomenology, analytic and continental philosophy and neuroscience.
General Assessment Information
GenAI/ChatGPT policy in Philosophy:
In this Unit, and unless notified otherwise in writing by the Unit Convenor, substantive assessment content that has been generated by AI will be regarded as not the student’s own work and potentially in breach of Academic Integrity standards. This applies to all assessments, including online forums. In submitting assessments all students will be required to confirm their agreement with the following:
In submitting this assessment, I certify that this submission is my own work and demonstrates my own understanding, analysis, research, reflection, critical thinking, and writing. I am not submitting anything that I cannot myself fully explain and defend, if called upon to do so. I understand that if my teachers have concerns about whether this submission is my own work or an AI-generated output, I may be required to attend an interview with the Unit Convenor/Integrity Officer/academic staff to verify my research methods, my understanding of the content, and my close familiarity with all sources I have cited. If I am found to have submitted work that is not my own, my work will be further investigated, and I may be found to be in breach of the MQ Academic Integrity Policy.
Special Consideration and Late Submission Information:
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Portfolio | 25% | No | 25/05/2025 |
| Short media presentation | 30% | No | 18/04/2025 |
| Research Essay | 45% | No | 30/05/2025 |
Reflective Portfolio
Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 25/05/2025
Weighting: 25%
A set of reflections on learning in the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science, phenomenology and philosophy.
- Articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments in written and oral form to a variety of audiences.
Short media presentation
Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 18/04/2025
Weighting: 30%
Short format recorded presentation involving audio and/or visual material reflecting on questions posed by the weekly content
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science, phenomenology and philosophy.
- Articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments in written and oral form to a variety of audiences.
- Analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
- Apply acquired knowledge and skills in the context of philosophical and cognitive science scholarship.
- Explain and critically evaluate evidence from a broad range of disciplines including cognitive science, psychology, phenomenology, analytic and continental philosophy and neuroscience.
Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 30/05/2025
Weighting: 45%
An essay based on topics from the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources concerning foundational concepts and arguments in cognitive science, phenomenology and philosophy.
- Articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments in written and oral form to a variety of audiences.
- Analyze and critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
- Apply acquired knowledge and skills in the context of philosophical and cognitive science scholarship.
- Explain and critically evaluate evidence from a broad range of disciplines including cognitive science, psychology, phenomenology, analytic and continental philosophy and neuroscience.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
PHIL/PHIX3063 lectures will be delivered in-person and will be recorded (via Echo360) for 'online flexible' students. There will be in-class tutorials for 'in person scheduled' students and asynchronous online forums for 'online flexible' students. This unit uses an iLearn website (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/my/). The website contains links to the reading material, lecture notes, lecture recordings, and other learning materials such as video clips, weblinks, and images. Students will therefore require access to a computer and a good internet connection in order to access all the material and participate in the unit effectively. Lectures are organised around key texts in which fundamental concepts and arguments are introduced and explained. Online flexible students will engage in these activities online via dedicated iLearn discussion forums. For tutorial times please consult the MQ Timetable website: https://publish.mq.edu.au/. This website will display up-to-date information on your tutorial locations.
Lectures
PHIL/PHIX3063 lectures will be delivered in-person and will be recorded (via Echo360) for 'online flexible' students. Lectures begin Week 1.
Tutorials
Weekly tutorial classes/online forums will begin in Week 2. Weekly discussion questions will be posted before the lectures.
Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials
PHIL3063 - Consciousness and Self will be using electronically available readings available via Leganto on the iLearn website.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook