CCHU9051 2021-S2 Syllabus PDF

CCHU 9051: Mysteries of the Human Mind
Time: Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:20pm

Zoom link: https://hku.zoom.us/j/97153074885
Instructor: Amit Chaturvedi

Email: amitc@hku.hk
Office: Rm. 10.09, 10/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
Tutor: Tim Li
Email: hkutimli@gmail.com
Office: Rm. 10.14, 10/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
Course Description
The human mind is the foundation of society and culture, and it is something we are intimately
acquainted with. But at the same time, its underlying nature is still shrouded in mystery and hard to
explain.
This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore the fascinating complexities of the mind. It
involves philosophical analysis, scientific investigation, and an awareness of history and the broader
social and moral implications of technology. A central issue is whether the mind is a computer. Can
computers display intelligence, creativity, and emotions? Can the computer model of the mind explain
the mysteries of consciousness and free will? Or do these mental phenomena require the existence of
a soul?
These issues are exciting not just because they are intellectually important, but also because to
understand the mind is to understand ourselves better. We will see how the ideas in this course can
help us become better thinkers, and improve our creativity and decision-making skills. We will also
discuss how science and technology can challenge our conception of the self and how they might
affect future human evolution in radical ways.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course you should be able to:

o Describe and explain the key features of the mind such as consciousness, emotions,
creativity, and reasoning.
o Identify and critically evaluate the central debates surrounding the nature and reality of
consciousness, the self, free will, and Artificial Intelligence.
o Demonstrate an understanding of the techniques and explanatory power of an inter-
disciplinary approach to the mind.
o Appreciate divergent conceptions of selfhood and personhood, and articulate their ethical and
societal implications in the context of technological change.
o Use the findings from the course to critically review one’s own thinking skills, character and
work habits.
Assessment (100% Coursework)

Assignment deadlines and details will be announced in class/on Moodle.
1) Tutorial participation (15%)
Tutorial attendance is mandatory. Substantive contributions to tutorial discussions will be

counted toward the participation grade.
Tutorial sign-ups, schedules, and further details will be available on Moodle.

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2) Midterm Quiz (15%)
There will be a multiple-choice quiz to test your comprehension of the course material in the
first 6 weeks of class. The quiz will be given online during class on the date of the week 7
lecture.
3) Lecture Responses (20% -- 10% week 3-6, 10% week 7-12)

You will choose two lectures to write a short response (400 words), in which you summarize
the lecture’s content, discuss what points were most interesting to you, and what questions
you were left with. After a given lecture, you will submit your response on Moodle by the
following Tuesday at 17:00. You will write one response to a lecture from weeks 3-6, and
another response to a lecture from weeks 7-12.
4) Writing Portfolio (25% -- 15% argument analysis, 10% news report)

Your portfolio consists of two types of assignments, based on an assigned reading of your
choosing: argument analysis, and news report. You will submit one of each over the course of
the semester.
The argument analysis (600 words) involves identifying a central argument presented in one
of the assigned readings; concisely summarizing the argument's structure; and offer one’s
own thoughts about the strengths and/or weaknesses of that argument. You will submit your
argument analysis on Moodle by 5 March at 17:00.
The news report (300 words) involves finding a recent news article (within the last year) that is
related to the topics discussed in a given reading. In your own words, write a summary of the
article, explain its relevance to the reading, and discuss what philosophical issues or
questions the article raises. You will submit your news report on Moodle by 7 May at 17:00.
5) Final Essay (25%)

You will write one 1000 word final essay due at the end of the semester. A list of possible
essay topics will be provided. You will submit your essay via Moodle by 14 May at 17:00.
Grading Policies
See the following links for more information on the Common Core course grading scale:
Essay: https://ar.cetl.hku.hk/pdf/grade_descriptors/Grade%20Descriptors%20for
%20Essays.pdf
Tutorial participation: https://ar.cetl.hku.hk/pdf/grade_descriptors/Grade%20Descriptors

%20for%20Tutorial%20Participation.pdf
** Late assignments will only be accepted if a legitimate reason is provided in a timely manner. There
will be a loss of 25% for each day that an assignment is submitted late.
Academic Honesty
Please refer to the HKU guide on plagiarism at http://www.hku.hk/plagiarism. You can consult with the
tutor if you have any questions about whether your own work would count as plagiarism. See also the
links below:
What is plagiarism? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0uez9Y9N7I&feature=youtu.be
2
Important Dates: (The Instructor reserves the right to change this schedule if necessary.)
4 Feb - 9 Mar: 1st lecture response submission period

5 Mar: Argument analysis due
17 Mar: In-class midterm quiz
24 Mar - 4 May: 2nd lecture response submission period
7 May: News report due
14 May: Final essay due
Course Schedule
The required readings for each class will be posted on the course Moodle site.
Week 1 (20 Jan): The Life of the Mind
What is the mind? What makes human minds unique?
Week 2 (27 Jan): Mind over Matter – Descartes and Dualism

Is the mind the same as the body? If not, how are they related?
Week 3 (3 Feb): Mind the Gap – The Hard Problem of Explaining Consciousness
What is consciousness? Can it be understood by science?
Week 4 (10 Feb): Matter over Mind – Reductionism, Physicalism, and Functionalism
Is the mind just neural processes? Could these processes produce a mind outside the brain?
17 Feb: No Class (Chinese New Year)
Week 5 (24 Feb): Mind and Machines – Artificial Intelligence and the Nature of Thought
What is a computer? Can a computer think? How could we tell?
Week 6 (3 Mar): Minds of Their Own – The Singularity & Super-Intelligent Machines
If super-human intelligent machines become possible, what does that mean for the future of
humanity? Could humans merge with machines to become immortal? Is that good or bad?
10 Mar: No Class (Reading Week)
Week 7 (17 Mar): Be Mindful – Attention and Consciousness

What is attention, and how does it shape conscious experience? How is our attention
manipulated in daily life? Can we take control of our minds by improving our attention?
Week 8 (24 Mar): Free Your Mind – The Existence of Free Will
Can free will exist in a physical world? Why don’t we always do what we know we should?
Week 9 (31 Mar): The Mind’s “I” – The Existence of the Self
What makes me “me”? What do split brains and teleportation tell us about personal identity?
Week 10 (7 Apr): The Emotional Mind – Emotion, Reason, and Consciousness

What are emotions and what is their function? Are they irrational? Can robots have emotions?
Week 11 (14 Apr): A Beautiful Mind – Art and Creativity

What is creativity? Is it unique to the human mind?
Week 12 (21 Apr): Mind Hacks – Extended Cognition, Neurotechnology, and Mental Enhancement
Does technology extend the boundaries of our minds beyond the brain? How might
technology radically improve our mental abilities, and what ethical issues would arise as a
result?
Week 13 (28 Apr): Final Essay Review Session (optional)

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CCHU 9051: Mysteries of the Human Mind

Time: Wednesday, 6:30pm-8:20pm

Instructor: Amit Chaturvedi

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course you should be able to:

Assessment (100% Coursework)

1) Tutorial participation (15%)

Tutorial attendance is mandatory. Substantive contributions to tutorial discussions will be

Tutorial sign-ups, schedules, and further details will be available on Moodle.

3) Lecture Responses (20% -- 10% week 3-6, 10% week 7-12)

4) Writing Portfolio (25% -- 15% argument analysis, 10% news report)

5) Final Essay (25%)

Tutorial participation: https://ar.cetl.hku.hk/pdf/grade_descriptors/Grade%20Descriptors

4 Feb - 9 Mar: 1st lecture response submission period

Week 2 (27 Jan): Mind over Matter – Descartes and Dualism

17 Feb: No Class (Chinese New Year)

10 Mar: No Class (Reading Week)

Week 7 (17 Mar): Be Mindful – Attention and Consciousness

Week 10 (7 Apr): The Emotional Mind – Emotion, Reason, and Consciousness

Week 11 (14 Apr): A Beautiful Mind – Art and Creativity

Week 13 (28 Apr): Final Essay Review Session (optional)

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