PHIL20033 The Philosophy of Mind
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is PHIL20033 hard?
PHIL20033: About average. Makes it easier: No final exam. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
Old questions about mind and consciousness made urgent by AI: could a machine think or be conscious?
After it you can
- Explain major theories of the mind
- Assess arguments about machine consciousness
- Write clear philosophical essays
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Quizzes 25%, Reports and essays 75%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2019–2025)
- Covers the main theories of mind (dualism, physicalism, functionalism) plus emotions and extended cognition, with plenty of thought experiments.
- Opinions are mixed: one enjoyed the two-hour seminar format, one found the topics blurred together and confusing (2020), and one found tutorial discussion average (2025).
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHIL20033
Quick answers
- When is PHIL20033 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking PHIL20033?
- No prerequisites.
- Does PHIL20033 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Quizzes 25%, Reports and essays 75%.
- Is PHIL20033 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Covers the main theories of mind (dualism, physicalism, functionalism) plus emotions and extended cognition, with plenty of thought experiments.
- What do students say about PHIL20033?
- Covers the main theories of mind (dualism, physicalism, functionalism) plus emotions and extended cognition, with plenty of thought experiments. Opinions are mixed: one enjoyed the two-hour seminar format, one found the topics blurred together and confusing (2020), and one found tutorial discussion average (2025).
- How many class hours a week does PHIL20033 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take PHIL20033 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate PHIL20033?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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