The course is a specialisation in the philosophy of mind. It focuses on one aspect of our mental lives, namely consciousness, by which we here understand the "subjective" aspects of the mind, or "what it is like" to (say) feel pain or see colours. One topic that we consider is the ontological status of consciousness, and especially its relation to the brain. For example, can consciousness be identified with some brain process, or is the relation between consciousness and the brain of some other kind? Another topic concerns our epistemic access to consciousness: To what extent can we come to know and understand consciousness and its relation to the brain? The course covers both philosophical and empirical contributions to these issues.
The problem of consciousness: Philosophical and empirical aspects, 7.5 credits
Autumn Term 2025
Starts
3 November 2025
Ends
18 January 2026
Study location
Umeå
Language
English
Type of studies
Daytime,
50%
Required Knowledge
90 ECTS credits in anthropology, computer science, linguistics, neuro science, philosophy, psychology or some other subject relevant to cognitive science, or similar. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
