PH 204 Dreaming, Perceiving, and Reality
In our dreams, we see, hear, and touch the worlds of our mind’s own creation and sometimes we are so convinced by the reality of our dreams that we cannot distinguish them from reality. How do we know we are not dreaming? When we see, smell, taste, and touch the world around us, what is it that we are immediately aware of? Is it the real world itself—the world of physics—or, instead, are we aware of a world constructed by our minds? In Dreams, Perception, and Reality, we will explore some of the most fundamental philosophical questions beginning from their historical origins to contemporary philosophical and neuroscientific approaches to understanding dreams, perception, hallucinations, and imagination.
Prerequisite
100-level PH course