PHIL 5450/6450 Paper 1

Instructions:

(1) Papers may be on any topic of your choosing, but they should substantially engage the classroom readings and discussion. Topics below are suggestions. If you’d like to discuss your paper topic [recommended if you are not writing on one of the topics below], feel free to contact me during my office hours or via email at rmallon@philosophy.utah.edu.

(2) Papers should be original. Plagiarism will result in a punishment not to exceed a failing grade for the course. (Note also that work produced for another course cannot be submitted for this one.)

(3) Papers are DUE Tuesday 22nd of February, 2005.

Some advice:

(1) Your paper should have an argument that you introduce, present, and conclude.

(2) It's often easier to start with a position you disagree with.

(3) Considering objections to your view will enhance the quality of your written work and your thinking.

(4) Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

Topic Suggestions

1. Assess arguments by Smart and/or Armstrong in favor of physicalism. Be sure to address their worry that "nomological danglers" would run afoul of Occam's razor.

2. Why does Armstrong think that phenomenal properties pose a special problem for the causal analysis? What is his resolution of the difficulties? Does it succeed?

3. Block distinguishes between functionalism and psychofunctionalism, and he suggests the former is too liberal while the latter may be chauvinistic. Assess one or more of his arguments.

4. Jerry Fodor has suggested that propositional attitudes are subserved by a "language of thought." Assess one or more of his arguments.

5. Daniel Dennett offers an instrumentalist account of the success of folk psychology. Compare and Contrast this account with Fodor's.

6. Paul and Patricia Churchland are sharply critical of both Fodor and Dennett. Compare and contrast their approach to the mind with either Fodor or Dennett.