Information about the course
This course is an introduction to some of the philosophical issues related to the human mind. By examining various philosophical arguments and positions, students are introduced to the techniques of philosophical analysis, and the basic principles of critical thinking and writing.
- Lecturer: Dr. Joe Lau (jyflau@hku.hk). Office: Main Building Room 309.
- Lectures : Every tue and thur 2-2:50pm Main Building room 217.
- Course schedule and readings
- Assessment : problem set (10%), essay #1 (25%), essay #2 (30%), 1 in-class test (25%), tutorial performance (10%).
- Group tutorials are compulsory. Lectures are not. Tutorials are held every other week. More details later.
- Department General Office: Room 312, telephone number 28592796
- Lecture notes, problem sets and announcements will be posted here. Check the site regularly for updates.
- Discussion forum : There will be a web forum for you to ask questions and discuss with each other. Do not use my personal email unless you have questions specifically related to yourself.
- Switch off your mobile phones during lectures, or else you will be fined $10.
Announcements
- [18 Apr] The Q&A session on 24 April is cancelled. In other words, there will not be any more lectures. I might arrange for online course evaluation. Please use the course bulletin board for questions.
- [15 Apr] Topics for essay #2
- [14 Apr] You can get back your first essay starting this wednesday from Loletta at the Department Office.
- [11 Apr] The University has decided to resume classes, even though classes would be voluntary. In view of the fact that the SARS epidemic is still continuing, and that many students might not want to attend tutorials or lectures, I have decided on the following arrangements : (a) All remaining lectures are cancelled. I shall post notes for students to study online instead. There will be a Q&A session on 24 April for you to ask questions about the last topic on freewill. (b) All tutorials are cancelled, and students are encouraged to use the course bulletin board to raise questions. I shall ask Dr. Huen to arrange for a few sessions in case students want to discuss their essays or other issues face to face. (c) The compulsory in-class test on May 6th is cancelled. The revised assessment distribution will be : problem set #1 (13%) essay #1 (30%) essay #2 (50%), and tutorial performance (7%). (d) The second essay will be due 15 May. I shall post additional lecture notes and essay questions within these few days. (e) You will be able to pick up your first essay by around Wed 16 April. An announcement will be made when they are ready.
- [4 Apr] As you know, the University has decided to postpone classes for another week until April 13, 2003. All lectures and tutorials of this course are to be further postponed until further notice. Given the length of the postponement period, I am thinking of cancelling lectures and posting material online for your own study, and arranging for
email and/or bulletin board discussion in place of tutorials. I shall need
to review the situation a bit more before making further announcements.
Please check your email and the course web site for new announcements in a
few days.
- [28 Mar] You might already know that the University has decided to suspend all
classes starting 29 March, to be resumed on 7 April. Tutorials originally scheduled between 29 March and 6 April will be
postponed. If it affects you, send an email to your tutor (see addresses below) so that he or she
can liaise with you to arrange for a new meeting. The next lecture will resume on Tue 8 April.
- [26 Mar] In-class test is scheduled on May 6th. See course schedule.
- [26 Feb] See this page for guidelines in grading essays.
- [25 Feb] Essay topics and instructions for the 1st essay
- [6 Feb] Problem set #1 is now online. Due date Friday 14 feb 2003.
Hand your homework to Mrs. Lau by hand. No late submission will be allowed.
- See below for tutorial timeslots.
- [30.1] Tutorials will begin after Chinese New Year. You will be
able to sign up for tutorials on the course bulletin board on 6 Feb 2002.
-
Our course bulletin board is now online. You can use it to ask questions.
Tutorial timetable
Tutorials are compulsory in this course.
To signup for one of the following tutorial groups, go to the
course bulletin board and select the topic that corresponds to
the tutorial group, and post a message with your FULL NAME and HKU STUDENT ID NUMBER.
Each group can take at most seven students. The first seven students
who sign up will be assigned to the group.
Tutor : Simon Kwong (h9800440@hkusua.hku.hk)
Tutorial group #1 - Thur 3-4pm 13/2, 27/2, 13/3, 27/3 and 10/4.
Tutorial group #2 - Thur 3-4pm 20/2, 6/3, 20/3 (reading week), 3/4 and 17/4.
Tutor : Kenny Huen (huenssk@hkstar.com)
Tutorial group #3 - Tues. 4-4:50 Feb. 11, 25, Mar. 11, Apr. 1, 15
Tutorial group #4 - Wed. 2-2:50 Feb. 12, 26, Mar. 12, Apr. 2, 16
Tutorial group #5 - Wed. 3-3:50 Feb. 12, 26, Mar. 12, Apr. 2, 16
Tutorial group #6 - Wed. 4-4:50 Feb. 12, 26, Mar. 12, Apr. 2, 16
Tutorial group #7 - Tues. 4-4:50 Feb. 18, Mar. 4, 25, Apr. 8, 22
Tutorial group #8 - Wed. 2-2:50 Feb. 19, Mar. 5, 26, Apr. 9, 23
Tutorial group #9 - Wed. 3-3:50 Feb. 19, Mar. 5, 26, Apr. 9, 23
Tutorial group #10 - Wed. 4-4:50 Feb. 19, Mar. 5, 26, Apr. 9, 23
Tutor : Eun (h0291028@hkusua.hku.hk)
Tutorial group #11 - Mon 3:00-3:50 Feb 17, March 3, 24 April 7, 21
Tutorial group #12 - Mon 4:00-4:50 Feb 17, March 3, 24 April 7, 21
Tutorial group #13 - Tue 3:00-3:50 Feb 18 March 4, 25 April 8, 22
Tutorial group #14 - Tue 4:00-4:50 Feb 18 March 4, 25 April 8, 22