Is Consciousness Physical? (Year 12 & 13)

It's commonly assumed that everything in the universe comes about through the complex interaction of matter, energy, and other physical phenomena, and, relatedly, that everything can (or will) be explained by natural science. For centuries, philosophers have worried that conscious experience may be a counterexample to this: that e.g. the experiences of toothache and tasting coffee will never be scientifically explained, and are perhaps not physical phenomena at all.

In this Philosophy Masterclass, students will examine some key arguments from philosophers who have questioned the belief that natural science can explain consciousness. Through considering the points for and against, by the end of the session, students will be able to defend their views on whether consciousness is physical more rigorously than they (and others!) could before.

Additional Information: Individual bookings can be made by students in Year 12 and 13. Please note you may not be allocated all the places you request depending on availability.

Sessions will run from 13:00 - 15:00.