Event Timeslots (1)
Block
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This course is taught en bloc. For dates and times, please see the entry on eCampus. In this Blockseminar we shall delve into the philosophy of Reneè Descartes' meditations. With the philosophical tool of methodological doubt Descartes rules out the possibility that an evil genius is constantly deceiving us since there is something that we cannot be deceived about, namely that one is thinking. However, contemporary cognitive science is ripe with examples that an omnipotent deceiver is not needed as we are often the ones who deceive ourselves. We shall start by discussing and understanding Descartes' ideas in the meditations leading to the famous Cogito argument. Then, we shall move from the mediatations to debates of related issues in contemporary Philosophy of Mind and cognitive science, focussing especially on topics connected with the reliability of conscious experience and self-deception.
Ungraded: For this blockseminar all students are required to actively participate either by presenting the session's material or by taking notes and writing protocols of the sessions.
Graded: To receive a grading for this Blockseminar, on top of active participation students are required to write an original essay (Hausarbeit): the length depends on the study program (Bachelor/ Master and type of Master).
In exceptional cases there will be the possibility to have an oral examination if there are significant issues with the writing of the essay.
Preparatory Meeting Online which is obligatory: Monday 19th of October 2026 from 18:00 to 19:00
Link: https://ruhr-uni-bochum.zoom-x.de/j/3013146887?pwd=qIm2koVASAuB7Ieod9SpadF0HFZIxm.1
Seminar dates: from Tuesday the 16th to Friday the 19th of February 2027