PHIL 288(F) Embodied Mind: A Cross-Cultural Exploration (Same as Religion 288)

REL 288(F) Embodied Mind: A Cross-Cultural Exploration (Same as Philosophy 288)
This course examines some of the central questions concerning the nature of the mind: the place of intentionality, the role of emotions, the relation with the body, the nature of subjectivity, the scope of reflexivity, etc. In confronting these questions, we do not proceed purely theoretically but consider the contributions of various observation-based traditions, from Buddhist psychology and meditative practices to phenomenology to neurosciences. We begin by examining some of the central concepts of Buddhist psychology, its treatment of the mind as a selfless stream of consciousness, its examination of the variety of mental factors and its accounts of the relation between cognition and affects. We also introduce the practice of meditation as a way to observe the mind and raise questions concerning the place of its study in the mind-sciences. We pursue this reflection by examining the views of James, Husserl, Sartre and Merleau-Ponty, particularly as they concern the methods for the study of the mind and the relation between intentionality, reflexivity and the body. In this way, we develop a rich array of analytical tools and observational practices to further our understanding of the mind. But we also question the value of these tools, which are based on first person approaches, by relating them to the third person studies of neurobiologists such as Damasio. We come to appreciate the importance of considering the biology on which mental processes are based and the light that this approach throws on the central questions of the course. We conclude by considering the relation between first and third person studies of the mind, focusing on Varella's concept of the embodied mind as a fruitful bridge between these different traditions.
Format: seminar. Requirements: attendance to a day-long introduction to the practice of meditation, regular practice of meditation, a class presentation and a research paper (15 pages).
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 22 (expected: 15). Preference given to students with relevant background
Hour: DREYFUS