Philosophy
of Cognitive Science REVISED CONTINUOUSLY
Fall
2006 T-TH 10:45-12:05 BEH S
106
Instructor: Dr. Ron Mallon
585-5810
http://www.hum.utah.edu/philosophy/faculty/mallon/
Office 341J OSH
Hours: Thursday 1PM to 3PM by appt.
Texts: Reserve
Readings as assigned
Webpage: http://www.hum.utah.edu/philosophy/faculty/mallon/Materials/
Course Webpages/Fall06/CogSci.htm
Course
Description:
Over the last 50
years, an exciting new research paradigm arose at the intersection of
psychology, philosophy, linguistics, logic and computer science. This research paradigm consisted of a
cluster of methodological assumptions, research paradigms, and theoretical
goals, and it has been enormously productive in guiding inquiry and theory
building about the human mind.
This course
will consider a number of the theoretical debates that have arisen in the
course of the maturation of cognitive science, and we will also survey a number
of cognitive science research programs.
Throughout, our primary emphasis will be on the philosophical
assumptions guiding such research.
Course
Requirements:
The
course requirements are simple.
They consist in:
In
class first test: 1/3
of grade First Test Study Questions
In
class second test: 1/3
of grade FINAL EXAM
Friday, December 15th, 10:30AM-12:30PM
Class papers, other work: 1/3 of grade SHORT PAPER TOPICS 1 Final Paper Topics Extra Credit Option
Topic 1: Introduction
I. Introductory Reading:
Tuesday, 29 August:
Introduction: Basic Ideas in Cognitive Science
"Meat Machines" (Chp. 1, Mindware (2001)) On Reserve
Some concepts:
Physicalism/Materialism
Folk Psychology
A formal system
Identity
Theory
Machine
Functionalism
Computation
Turing Machine
Intentionality
Consciousness
HANDOUT
"Logic, Computation, and Thought"
II. Folk Psychology: What Can It Teach Us About the Mind?
Thursday/Tuesday/Thursday 31 August/5 September/7 September:
A. Jerry Fodor and The Language of Thought
"First Approximations" (Chp. 1, The Language of Thought (1975)) On Reserve
Recommended: "Propositional Attitudes" (from Representations (1981)) On Reserve
Tuesday/Thursday 12/19
September
B. Daniel Dennett and the Intentional Stance
"True Believers: The Intentional Strategy and Why it Works" On Reserve
(from ed. William Lycan, Mind and Cognition: A Reader (1990))
"Brain Writing and Mind Reading" On Reserve
(from ed. David Rosenthal, The Nature of Mind (1991))
Tuesday 19 September
C. Paul Churchland and Eliminativism
"Eliminative Materialism and the Propositional Attitudes" On Reserve
(from Journal of Philosophy (1981)).
III. Computation and the Mind
Thursday/Tuesday, 22/26
September
A. Classical View:
John Haugeland: "Semantic Engines: An Introduction to Mind Design" On Reserve
(from Mind Design (1981)).
Thursday/Tuesday, 28 September/3 October
B. Connectionism:
Kim Sterelny: "Connectionism" On Reserve
MIDTERM
EXAM OCTOBER 10, Study questions OCTOBER 3!!
After that:
IV. The Modularity of Mind Modularity: What it Is
October 17/19
1. Jerry Fodor, "Precise of the Modularity of Mind," On Reserve
Behavioral and Brain Sciences, (1985) Volume 8, pp. 1-5.
2. Jerry Fodor, "Central Systems," On Reserve
from The Modularity of Mind, (1981) pp. 101-119
V. The
Modularity of Central Systems:
October 24
1. Frank Keil, "The Origins of an Autonomous Biology"
from M. Gunnar and M. Maratsos (Eds)., Modularity and Constraints in Language and Cognition: The Minnesota Symposia. Hilldale, NJ: Earlbaum. Pp. 103-137. On Reserve
Recommended: Dan Sperber, "The modularity of thought and the epidemiology of representations," from Lawrence A. Hirschfeld and Susan A. Gelman (Eds)., Mapping the Mind. Cambridge University Press. New York. 1994. pp. 39-67. On Reserve
2. Alan Leslie, "ToMM, ToBy, and Agency: Core architecture and domain specificity" pp. 119-148. On Reserve
V. Adaptationism, Evolutionary Psychology, and the MASSIVE
Modularity of Mind
1. John Tooby and Leda Cosmides, "The Psychological Foundations of Culture" On Reserve
Thursday November 9 Handout on Ev Psych
2. David Buller, "The Arguments for Modularity Reconsidered" On Reserve
Another Handout on Ev Psych
VI. Dual-Process Theories and Moral
Judgment
1. Jonathan Haidt, "The Emotional Dog and Its Rational Tail" On Reserve
2. John Bargh, "The Unbearable Automaticity of Being" On Reserve
Policies
Late
policy
Late
work will be penalized. If you
have a planned absence or a conflict with another class, make arrangements with
me in advance to avoid penalty. If
you have an unexpected emergency (e.g. the death of a loved one or a medical
problem), plan to present me with documentation of it. Unexcused late work will be penalized
at the rate of 1 letter grade per week, up to a maximum of two full letter
grades.
Plagiarism
"Plagiarism" means the intentional unacknowledged use or
incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work
offered for academic consideration or credit for public presentation.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one's own, without
attribution, any individual's words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas,
information or any other mode or content of expression (Student Code, p. 3).
http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html#SECTION V.
The University
of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities
for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class,
reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services,
162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the
instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.
Policy
concerning accommodation of religious beliefs:
There is no
accommodation of religious beliefs.
University
policy can be found here:
http://www.admin.utah.edu/facdev/accommodations-policy.pdf
Official
policy governing grade appeals:
http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html#SECTION IV
http://www.sa.utah.edu/regist/registration/withdrawal/withdrawal1.htm