---
title: "Mind and consciousness"
course: "PHIL 101 · Big questions in philosophy"
unit: "Mind, freedom and the self"
lesson: 5 of 16
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/big-questions-in-philosophy/mind-and-consciousness
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Mind and consciousness

Lesson 5 of 16 in **Big questions in philosophy** (PHIL 101), unit "Mind, freedom and the self". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Explain the mind-body problem in plain words.
- Compare dualism (mind and body are different kinds of thing) and physicalism (the mind is physical), with one strength and one objection for each.
- Explain the 'hard problem' of consciousness using an example such as Mary the color scientist or what it is like to taste coffee.
- Discuss whether a machine or an animal could have a mind, giving reasons.

## Teaching notes
Use the learner's own experience: is the pain of a stubbed toe the same thing as nerve signals? Present dualism and physicalism even-handedly, and note that many traditions, including some Indian and Buddhist schools, offer other views of consciousness.

## Course boundaries
Present philosophical views fairly in their strongest form, including non-Western traditions. Do not push your own conclusions on open questions, and keep religious and political topics balanced and respectful.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 5 complete: Mind and consciousness."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Do we have free will?" (lesson 6 of 16), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/big-questions-in-philosophy/do-we-have-free-will.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Challenge: argue it out
Next lesson: Do we have free will?