Unit information: Philosophy of Psychology in 2020/21

Unit name	Philosophy of Psychology
Unit code	PHIL30077
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Karim Thebault
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Philosophy
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Philosophy of psychology has three strands.

The first strand uses the results from psychology and cognitive science to shed light on traditional philosophical problems: for example looking at experimental investigation of our powers of introspection to illuminate the philosophical discussion of self-knowledge.

The second strand is the philosophy of science where the science in question is psychology: for example asking whether evolutionary psychology meets the standards of good science.

Third is doing cognitive science, but at a high level of generality: for example asking about the structure of the mind—whether it is modular or homogeneous.

Over the series of lectures and seminars, we look at a variety of topics that fall into one or more of these strands: nativism; modularity; folk psychology; emotions; animal cognition; the extended mind; rationality; moral psychology and delusions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the unit, students will be able to:

(1) demonstrate a clear and sophisticated grasp of the science of psychology and its methodological and epistemological footing;

(2) deploy findings from psychological studies to shed new light on traditional philosophical debates about the mind

(3) assess critically the philosophical implications of the major theories and hypotheses about the structure and nature of the mind offered by experimental psychology

(4) form their own views and provide argumentative justification for their positions, of a standard appropriate to level H/6.

Teaching Information

Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.

Assessment Information

FORMATIVE: Digital Presentation (ILOs 1-4) + SUMMATIVE: 4,500 word essay - 100% (ILOs 1-4)

Reading and References

• Cummins, D. (1995) The Other Side of Psychology. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• Huber, R. J., et al (2000) Cornerstones of Psychology: Readings in the History of Psychology. Orlando: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.