Personality and Philosophy

(2,3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Intoduction to personality theory; Philosophical questions relevant to psychology. Some of the topics covered will include: 1. Overview of the mind-body problem 2. Dualism 3. Logical behaviorism 4. Mind-brain identity theories 5. Eliminative Materialism 6. Functionalism and the computational models of the mind 7. Of minds and machines 8. Theories of consciousness SU This module addresses psychological theories and understandings of the person with reference to major contemporary approaches. Theories to be considered may include systemic, psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive and existential components, with consideration of the applicability of psychological theories to African contexts. After this module, students will be able to identify, define, understand, compare and/or critically evaluate, amongst others: The epistemological, theoretical and cultural-political assumptions that characterize and distinguish a range of different approaches to personhood and subjectivity in contemporary psychology, including psychoanalysis, behavioral and learning theory approaches, humanistic and person-centric approaches, and a variety cultural and historical approaches, including African psychology. Also, students will be able to critique the major approaches to personhood and subjectivity in psychology from a range of perspectives, including those informed by feminism, Marxism, critical theory, decolonial theory, anti-racist approaches, culture and indigenous knowledge systems.