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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Topics in the Philosophy of COGS (G5122)

Topics in the Philosophy of Cognitive Science

Module G5122

Module details for 2022/23.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 6

Library

Rather than a set text, students will read a selection of chapters and articles, such as:
Bermudez, Jose Luis (2003). Ascribing thoughts to non-linguistic creatures. Facta
Philosophica 5 (2):313-34 Gamez, David (2007) Progress in Machine Consciousness. Consciousness and
Cognition Volume 17, Issue 3, September 2008, Pages 887-910.
M. A. Boden (forthcoming) "Creativity and Artificial Evolution". In J. Copeland
and R. Brooks (Eds.) Creativity, Mathematics, and Computers (provisional title),
Templeton Press/MIT Press.

Module Outline

This module aims to provide students of cognitive science with the opportunity to think critically about recent theoretical developments in cognitive science and associated philosophical discussion, and to read key writings by people in the field. It will stress the links between the study of cognition and the study of other aspects of the mind, such as: phenomenal consciousness, emotion, creativity, embodiment, sensorimotor coordination, dynamical coupling, etc. (although actual topics covered will vary from year to year, and may depend on student interest). It will equip students with the ability to understand some of the deeper issues in current research in cognitive science, and to enable them to become reflective researchers in that area.

Module learning outcomes

Describe the way(s) in which cognitive science aims to integrate the mind into the natural world.

Synthesize and discuss the relative merits of representational and non-representational accounts of cognition.

Argue effectively for and against different philosophical positions concerning the elimination of the propositional attitudes from a science of the mind.

Synthesize and discuss the relative merits of symbolic and sub-symbolic accounts of cognition.

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework30.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
PresentationT1 Week 11 (10 minutes)34.00%
EssayXVAC Week 1 66.00%
Computer Based ExamSemester 1 Assessment70.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterSeminar2 hours11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Simon Bowes

Assess convenor
/profiles/169679

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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

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