Dr.  Bradley Richards
bradrich@yorku.ca
Office Location:  N822 Ross Building
Office Hours:

by appointment, either in person or remotely (I am usually available Wednesday morning in person, but you can make Zoom appointments for Thursday too!).

In this course, we will investigate several advanced topics in the philosophy of mind. We will consider topics such as the metaphysics of consciousness, the unity of conscious experience, the content of perceptual experience, the nature of the self, mental causation, attention, object perception, and metaphysical issues related to these topics.

Technical Requirements

• Eclass will be used to deliver most course content.
• Students are required to submit assignments through eClass
• Assignments may be evaluated by Turnitin
• Zoom may also be used to deliver some content
• Students will need a computer or smart device to access the course materials

To attend online Zoom office hours and stream recorded lectures, students should have a device capable of running Zoom. In addition to a stable, higher-speed Internet connection, it is preferred (but not required) that students have a device with a webcam and microphone.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

• Student Guide to eClass
• Zoom@YorkU Best Practices
• Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide
• Computing for Students Website
• Student Guide to eLearning at York University
• To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest

Course Delivery

1. This class will be held in-person on Wednesdays at 2:30pm in ACE 011.
2. The nature of the posted materials (video, or slides, or both, may vary from week to week).
3. Quizzes and discussion boards will become available weekly starting Week 2.
4. Readings will be posted to eClass.
5. Tutorials will be held at the scheduled time either on Zoom or in person. TBA

Readings will be available through links or articles provided on the eClass site.

TBA

Completing the work for this course will:

• Develop an advanced understanding of some of the central questions in the philosophy of mind.
• Teach you the motivations behind the primary positions in the field, and understand their relationship to some practical concerns (values)
• Improve your ability to read difficult texts with comprehension.
• Improve your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments.
• Improve your ability to communicate complicated ideas in concise prose.

Course Policies

RECORDINGS POLICY

Lecture recordings are to be used for educational purposes only and as a means for enhancing accessibility. Students do not have permission to duplicate, copy and/or distribute the recordings outside of the class (these acts can violate not only copyright laws but also FIPPA).

COURSE EMAIL POLICY

I am happy to answer emails on procedural issues addressed neither in class, nor by the syllabus. I may not reply to an email if the answer is on the syllabus; I may post an announcement instead of replying directly to an email if the answer would be helpful to others.

More substantial issues concerning course content should be addressed in class or office hours. There is no guarantee of email response on weekends or holidays. Please include course and section number in the subject line of all email correspondence, also include your full name and student number in the body of the email. This information is necessary so that I can reply and address your concern. If this information is omitted I may not reply. When all the above conditions are met, I will usually reply within 48 hours on weekdays).

LATE ASSIGNMENTS

• No late discussion board entries will be accepted and no extensions granted. However, you are permitted to miss 4/12 (you must complete 8). Aim to complete all 12 discussion board entries and your lowest grades will be dropped.
• Late critical argument evaluations will be accepted for two weeks without penalty (extensions must be requested). Again, this is enough time for everyone. After this period there are no extensions and no late assignments will be accepted.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All forms of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, will be taken extremely seriously. Potential penalties include, but are not limited to, failure of the assignment and/or failure of the course. In addition, students who plagiarize or cheat on any assignments forfeit their privilege to drop their lowest grades. Students are expected to be familiar with York’s policy regarding academic integrity: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/. All students are expected to complete the Honour Code Pledge on eClass.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We are committed to fairly accommodating students with disabilities. Please contact us as soon as possible with the relevant documentation from Student Accessibility Services.

RESOURCES

York has a variety of resources to help students succeed. Here are some of them.

• Mental Health
• Writing Centre
• Academic Advising
• Learning Commons
• Peer Mentorship