In this second section of the course will use Descartes' philosophy to motivate the discussion of knowledge and the mind. Though Descartes was writing in the 17th Century, his ideas still influence the debate today. In his Meditations, he considers the nature of knowledge and the role of skepticism. Descartes argues that knowledge has a foundational or linear structure and that we can avoid skepticism with certain knowledge. We will contrast this with a theory that emphasizes coherence and nonlinear associations between our beliefs.

Descartes is also a Dualist, believing that minds are not material objects (like our brains or bodies). Jerry Fodor's article surveys some of the important arguments for Materialism, which states that only material things exist. One such view with much contemporary support is the computational theory of mind, according to which the mind is nothing more than a software program running on a hardware system (the brain). John Searle presents a very influential argument against that particular materialist theory.

Below are objectives for this section, assigned readings, and study questions to help you understand the selections.

At the end of this section:

1. You should be able to explain and discuss critically the following concepts, positions and problems: appearance and reality, skepticism, foundationalism, coherence theory, reliabilism, internalism/externalism, Dualism, Materialism, the Mind-Brain Identity Theory, Functionalism, the Computational Theory of Mind, intentionality, qualia, Interactionism, and Searle's Chinese Room.
2. You should be able to discuss in an informed and comfortable way the following questions:
   1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of foundationalism and the coherence theory?
   2. What role does skepticism play in Descartes' philosophy? What role does God play in Descartes' quest for certainty?
   3. How does a naturalistic epistemologist employ evolutionary theory to account for human knowledge?
   4. How do Cartesian and naturalistic philosophers differ in their response to the question “Can we ever know what is real?”
   5. What can be said for/against Dualism and for/against Materialism?
   6. How do Cartesian and naturalistic philosophers differ in their response to the question “Could machines one day think?”

Translation by Jonathan Bennett DOWNLOAD PDF (Download the complete text)

Here are some study questions you should consider as you read these assignments. Different sets will be assigned at different times. We'll talk about these in class, so bring your responses with you.

1. What does he mean when he says he must “demolish everything completely and start again right from the foundations” any why is this necessary?
2. Why does he consider the possibility that he is dreaming when he perceives things
3. Why does he decide to replace the idea of a God who deceives him with the possibility of an evil demon?

1. What is the one thing Descartes can be certain of?
2. What kind of thing is he?
3. What is the wax thought experiment and what does he conclude?

1. What is the general rule that he lays down?
2. Why is it important that knows that God exists?

1. Why does the fact that Descartes sometimes makes errors in judgment seem like a problem for his theory?
2. What role do the intellect and the will play in resolving this problem?
3. What does Descartes mean by a free will?

1. What argument does Descartes offer for thinking that he is “distinct from” his body and can exist without it?
2. What does Descartes say he means when he says that he is “indivisible?”
3. What does he say about the relationship between his mind (himself) and his body?

Scientific American, v244 n1 p114-23 Jan 1981. DOWNLOAD PDF

Here are some study questions you should consider as you read this assignment. I'll divide the study questions into two sets as different assignments.

Part 1

1. What does Fodor say is the major problem with Dualism?
2. How does Fodor distinguish Radical Behaviorism from Logical Behaviorism?
3. What is the Central-State Identify Theory and what is its major problem?

Part 2

1. What does Functionalism say about different types of mental states?
2. What are some of the problems that Functionalism faces?

Selection from Minds, Brains and Science. Harvard University Press, 1984. DOWNLOAD PDF

Here are some study questions you should consider as you read this assignment.

1. What is the Chinese Room thought experiment that Searle presents?
2. What conclusion does he want to draw from this thought experiment?
3. Does Searle think a machine could think?
4. What's the difference between syntax and semantics?