Course Structure
| Study Mode | Online |
| Course Duration | 10 Lessons |
| Start Date | 7 October 2025 |
| End Date | 9 December 2025 |
| Day | Tuesdays |
| Time | 12:00 - 13:30 | Calgary 14:00 - 15:30 | New York 19:00 - 20:30 | London 22:00 - 23:30 | Dubai 23:30 - 01:00 | Mumbai 02:00 - 03:30 | Singapore |
| Cost | Free |
| Instructor | Ustadh Jamie B. Turner |
| Textbook | In-house resources will be shared |
All lesson recordings available on-demand!
Spanning the classic debates of dualism to contemporary questions on artificial intelligence, this 10-lesson course offers students a comprehensive exploration of the central problems and theories in the philosophy of mind.
Beginning with the foundational mind-body problem, students will examine dualism, physicalism, and functionalism, exploring how philosophers have attempted to explain the relationship between the mind and the brain. The course will then guide participants through influential thought experiments - such as the Chinese Room, Mary’s Room, and philosophical zombies - shedding light on enduring puzzles about consciousness, intentionality, and personal identity.
As the course progresses, students will consider challenges posed by developments in psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, engaging with debates on mental causation, emotions, and the problem of other minds. Finally, the course situates these discussions within the Islamic intellectual tradition, exploring classical and modern Muslim perspectives on the soul, intellect, and the implications of artificial intelligence for human nature and personhood.
Topics Covered
| Lesson 1 | Introduction to Course • What is Philosophy of Mind? • Overview of the Mind-Body Problem • The Role of Introspection, Neuroscience, and Psychology • Dualism vs. Physicalism – A Preview |
| Lesson 2 | Dualism • Substance Dualism: Descartes’ View • Arguments For and Against Dualism • Interaction Problem |
| Lesson 3 | Behavourism • Logical Behaviourism: Ryle and the Category Mistake • Methodological Behaviourism in Psychology • Challenges from Qualia and Subjective Experience |
| Lesson 4 | Physicalism • Reductive Physicalism: Mind as Brain • Identity Theory (Type vs. Token) • Non-Reductive Physicalism |
| Lesson 5 | Intentionality • What is Intentionality? • Brentano’s Thesis: The Mark of the Mental • Intentional Content and Mental Representation • Connection to Language and Thought |
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Lesson 6 |
Consciousness • The Hard Problem of Consciousness • Phenomenal vs. Access Consciousness • Nagel’s “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” |
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Lesson 7 |
Emotions • Are Emotions Cognitive or Non-Cognitive? • Emotions as Perceptions or Judgments • The Role of Emotions in Rationality |
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Lesson 8 |
Digital Minds • Can Computers Think? (Turing Test) • Functionalism and Machine Intelligence • Searle’s Chinese Room Argument • AI, Consciousness, and Personhood |
| Lesson 9 | Islam and the Mind-Body Problem • Historical Islamic Views on the Soul and Intellect • Avicenna on Dualism and the Flying Man Argument • Modern Muslim Responses to Neuroscience |
| Lesson 10 | Islam and Artificial Intelligence • Theological Concerns About Machine Consciousness • AI, Moral Agency, and the Soul • Islamic Concepts of Reason and the Intellect • Knowledge, Free Will, and Personhood in a Post-Human Age |
Learning Outcomes
Learn traditional Islamic knowledge in a thorough, practical and transforming way
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Understand and analyse core concepts in the philosophy of mind, including consciousness, intentionality, personal identity, and mental causation.
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Explore competing theories about the nature of the mind, such as dualism, physicalism, and functionalism.
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Examine key philosophical arguments and thought experiments (e.g., the Chinese Room, Mary’s Room, philosophical zombies) and develop critical responses to them.
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Analyse the philosophical challenges surrounding the relationship between the mind and the brain, and the implications of those challenges for scientific developments.
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Develop skills in closely reading philosophical texts and critically engaging with those texts by applying their ideas to both historical debates and contemporary issues in cognitive science and AI.
Course Fees
Our courses are free!
(Only *£10 to cover admin fees)
*The inclusion of the small nominal admin fee helps us to counter bots and spam.
Join our mission to keep them free and become a means for sacred knowledge to be readily accessible, professionally delivered (by qualified scholars) for the Muslim community - globally!
Become a supporter by donating as little as £10pm - together we can make it happen inshā'aAllāh.
Ustadh Jamie B. Turner
Senior Instructor
Testimonials
Amer Nazri | Animation Director
Kamran Ahmed | Finance Director
FAQs
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How long is this course?
This course is based on 10 lessons (1 hour 30 mins each).
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What do I need to access this course?
All you need is a reliable internet connection and access to a personal computer, tablet or phone – our online courses are responsive and designed to work across all platforms. We also recommend that you study the courses somewhere quiet so that you can concentrate and get the most out of the rich, helpful information they contain.
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Do I require additional resources?
No. Various course material will be shared during the course.
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Will there be recording available if I miss a class?
Yes. Recordings of each lesson will be posted within a day. All recordings will remain accessible for the academic year.
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Why is there a £10 admin fee?
We're able to offer our courses free of charge (rather than pay £££) as they are largely funded through sponsors and student donations. The inclusion of the small nominal admin fee helps us to counter bots and spam. We do however encourage students to support our cause by becoming a monthly supporter: https://lote.org.uk/donate (UK) https://lote.org.uk/donate-international (Non-UK)
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Will I get a qualification or ijazah?
If you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.
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I'm not in the UK, does that matter?
No, absolutely not – in fact that’s one of the main reasons we developed our online courses, so that more people from around the world could benefit from our training.
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I'm having trouble logging in, what can I do?
If you are having problems logging in, it may be that you need to delete your browser cookies and/or empty your cache. If you’re still having trouble after having done that, then please contact us.
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