Universität Wien

180107 SE Animal Philosophy of Mind (2015S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 45 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 10.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 17.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 24.03. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 14.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 21.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 28.04. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 05.05. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 12.05. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 19.05. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 02.06. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 09.06. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 16.06. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 23.06. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 30.06. 18:30 - 20:00 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Animal philosophy has become an important field of interest in contemporary philosophy. Various positions concerning animal ethics are well-established in applied ethics. The equally increasing interest in theoretical animal philosophy has to deal with central questions of epistemology, analytical philosophy of language and cognitive science. This seminar will focus on these questions and therefore aims to clarify core concepts of the philosophy of mind: intentionality, propositional attitudes, representation. Markus Wild's introduction to animal philosophy will provide a helpful overview. With reference to Fred Dretske's theory of representation Wild can exemplify how it is possible to ascribe informational and motivational states with increasing complexity and hence nonlinguistic thought to certain species.
Another important topic is the recent debate on self-/awareness in animals. Apart from a few Neo-Cartesians it is undisputed that vertebrates as well as higher invertebrates are sentient beings. Therefore they must have conscious experiences. But is this phenomenal consciousness necessarily given in the first-person-perspective? David DeGrazia distinguishes different forms of bodily, social and introspective self-awareness in animals. These forms will be discussed in the context of socio-cognitive abilities like imitation, emulation and the theory of mind.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular participation and discussion, (short) presentation with handouts, seminar paper

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Understanding important texts and arguments of a highly relevant contemporary philosophical debate by close reading, discussing, presenting and writing papers.

Examination topics

At the beginning the lecturer will review the main points of the last session; followed by a student's short presentation of an article (or certain passages); discussion.

Reading list

DeGrazia, D.: Self-awareness in animals, in: Lurz, R. W. (Hg.): The Philosophy of Animal Minds, Cambridge 2009, 201-217.
Francione, G.L.: Empfindungsfähigkeit, ernst genommen, in: Schmitz, F. (Hg.): Tierethik, Berlin 2014, 153-175.
Perler, D., Wild, M. (Hg.): Der Geist der Tiere, Frankfurt a.M. 2005.
Petrus, K., Wild, M. (Hg.): Animal Minds and Animal Ethics, Bielefeld 2013.
Wild, M.: Tierphilosophie zur Einführung, Hamburg 2008.
Wild, M.: Fische. Kognition, Bewusstsein und Schmerz, Bern 2012.

Association in the course directory

BA M 14, PP 57.3.7

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36