Instructor:
Bruce MacLennan, PhD
Phone: 974-5067
Office: Claxton Complex 217
Office Hours: TR 2:30–3:20, or make an appointment
Email: maclennan@cs.utk.edu
In this course we will explore the question of whether a machine can have a mind. In addition to its relevance to artificial intelligence, this question provides a sharp test-case for our theories of the human mind, and investigating it will foster a deeper understanding of our own humanity. Students will read selections from a number of psychologists, philosophers, and computer scientists who have addressed aspects of this issue, and we will discuss these readings in class. Assignments will include written critiques of the texts in addition to well-argued defenses of the students’ own positions. Informed discussion of these topics will require the students to master material in several disciplines, including artificial intelligence, cognitive science, philosophy, phenomenology, neuroscience, the theory of computing, logic, and the foundations of mathematics.
Prerequisites: Eng 118 or AP English credit.
This course satisfies the General Education requirements for
“Broadened Perspectives/Social Sciences” and “Communication through
Writing.”
Grades will be based on (1) evidence of having engaged and
understood the required readings, (2) classroom & online discussion
(25% total),
and (3) written assignments (75%). The latter will include sets
of essay questions or other exercises assigned every two or three
weeks. Also, approximately one half of the way through the term,
I will ask you to propose a topic for your term paper, typically a new
analysis of one the important issues discussed in the course, or a
critique of one or more published analyses. Naturally, all
written assignments will be graded on the quality of their composition
as well as on their technical content.
This class requires a significant amount of reading and some of it
is fairly technical. To help you along, I have required two
books, Copeland’s Artificial Intelligence, which is an ordinary textbook, and Haugeland’s Mind Design II,
which is a collection of readings from the literature. They cover
similar material in about the same order. The idea is that you
will read a chapter in Copeland, which will introduce a topic and
provide a context to help you understand the corresponding article(s)
in Haugeland. At the end of each class, I will tell you the
readings for the next class meeting, which are also available in the online schedule
(which I will update as required). You are expected to do the
readings before class and to come prepared to discuss them. If
you have difficulty understanding some of the material, please make a
note of your questions and bring them to class for discussion. You can also post questions in the class email list (see below).
At the beginning of class I will ask you a few comprehension
questions to confirm that you have done the reading. Next will be
a short lecture over the topic of the readings. The remaining
half of the class period will be devoted to critical discussion of the
material, in which you are expected to participate.
At the end of each class, we will identify several issues for
further discussion on the class email list. You are encouraged to post messages commenting
on these issues or responding to the comments of other students.
Additional relevant issues may be raised at any time by you or by
me. These posts are not expected to be polished essays, but they
should be intelligible, and although they are not graded, I will
evaluate them for engagement with the topic, comprehension, and cogent
questions and criticism. This evaluation will contribute to your
class participation grade. If you don’t like to talk in class,
you can compensate with more online discussion.
Every two or three weeks, I will assign one or more essay questions
intended to address a specific issue or requiring you to integrate and
analyze your readings to that point. You will be required to
write at least 250 words for each such assignment (about five total),
and I will grade your essays for grammar, usage, and organization in
addition to content. (Current and previous assignments are available online.)
The term paper is required to be at least 2500 words in
length. You may select a topic from a list provided by me or
propose a relevant topic of your own. After the seventh week you
are expected to turn in a short (100–200 word) proposal specifying the
topic, approach, and objective of your paper. After I approve it,
you will develop a detailed (topic-sentence-level) outline, which will
be due at the end of the ninth week. (See the explanation
of this kind of outline.) I will evaluate the outline
for organization and completeness, and ask you to revise and resubmit
it if it is inadequate. On the basis of your approved outlines,
you will write the first drafts of your papers, which are due no later
than the twelfth week. I will evaluate the drafts for
content, style, grammar, usage, and cogency, and in some cases I will
require a revised draft. The final versions of their papers are
due on the last day of class, although I may invite some students to
improve their grades by submitting a revised version during exam
week. There is some flexibility in these dates, but check in with
me via email.
| Item | Due |
|---|---|
| Topic | Nov 2 |
| Outline | Nov 28 |
| First Draft | Dec 7 |
| Final Draft | Dec 14 |
Return to MacLennan's home page
Send mail to Bruce MacLennan / MacLennan@cs.utk.edu 
This page is www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/UH267/index.html