Consciousness: are we just brains in a vat?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate different ideas of consciousness and how humans perceive reality.
Key learning points
- Rene Descartes used the evil demon hypothesis to engage in scepticism.
- Hilary Putnam proposed a thought experiment that humans could be brains in vats meaning there was no outside reality.
- The philosopher Rene Descartes famously said 'I think, therefore I am.'
- Some philosophers are dualists and see consciousness as something non-physical that identifies humans.
- Other philosophers are physicalists, such as JJC Smart who says that mental states are brain states.
Keywords
Consciousness - the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, thoughts and surroundings
Dualism - both physical and non-physical things exist, the mind or consciousness is non-physical and separate from the body
Physicalism - everything that exists is physical, including the mind or consciousness
Rene Descartes - a French philosopher who lived from 1596–1650 and who built his philosophy by doubting everything except his own thinking
Common misconception
Thought experiments, like Putnam's brain in a vat, are claims about reality.
Thought experiments are tools philosophers use to test ideas and challenge assumptions.
Teacher tip
Give students opportunities to engage with the thought experiments used in this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Many Western thinkers see the self as and continuous.
Q2.Which concept describes the Buddhist idea of 'no fixed self'?
Q3.Buddhists believe the self is made of five changing...
Q4.Hume compared perceptions to actors on a...
Q5.Which traditional idea does Baggini reject?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each keyword to its meaning:
a French philosopher who lived from 1596–1650
both physical and non-physical things exist
everything that exists is physical, including the mind
Q2.Descartes used the evil demon hypothesis to create extreme...
Q3.What is the main idea of Hilary Putnam’s 'brain in a vat' scenario?
Q4.Dualists believe that the mind and body are things.
Q5.What do physicalists believe?
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Consciousness: are we just brains in a vat?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Consciousness: are we just brains in a vat?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Personhood: what does it mean to be alive? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.