本門課將探討心智的存有論地位，討論幾種哲學立場，包括笛卡爾式的實體二元論、邏輯行為主義、心腦類型同一論、功能論（尤其是算機功能論）、工具論（或者意向系統論）、以及取消論。本門課接著會考慮困擾哲學家與科學家的一些重要問題，包括：心物難題、意向性、心理表徵、人工智能、意識與主題性、以及心理學的獨立自主性等問題。我們會考慮有心智的機器人是否可能的問題，以及動物心智的問題。
Contemporary philosophical and scientific studies of mind and cognition have been very impressive. In this course, we wi1l 1eam theories about the ontological status of mind. They include (Cartesian) substance dua1ism, logical behaviorism, Brain-state type identity thesis, functiona1ism (especially machine functiona1ism), instrumentalism (or intentional systems theory), and eliminativism. We wi1l then consider prob1ems that have been puzzling philosophers and scientists. They are the mind-body problem, the nature of intentionality, mental representation, artificial intelligence, consciousness and subjectivity, and the autonomy of psychology. Questions concerning whether thinking robots are possible and whether non-human animals have mind are discussed as well.