Humans are separated from other great apes by only a few million years of evolution. What do humans share in common with our closest living relatives, and what is all our own? We'll start by answering "what is a great ape?", then focus on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). Because we'll cover scientific research on bonobo and chimpanzee sexual behavior, students must be 15 or older.

How does consciousness relate to the physical body? Do we all experience sensations like "red" and "cold" in the same way? How important is language to the way we think? Could a machine be conscious? What prerequisites would such a conscious machine require - a robot body? a quantum CPU? emotions? These are the sorts of questions that are considered by philosophers of mind. In this class, we'll present some of their arguments and have a lively discussion about these kinds of questions and the intersection of philosophy of mind with current neuroscience.