Introduction to Cognitive Studies
Cognitive studies is a deeply interdisciplinary approach to the study of the human mind and its biological basis. In this team-taught course students will be introduced to the field of cognitive studies through several disciplinary perspectives, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and anthropology. The course will explore topics such as the nature of the mind and its relation to the body, the study of cognition as a neurological phenomenon, as well as from cross-cultural and cross-species perspectives, the development and function of human language, and the core aims and principles of artificial intelligence. This team-taught course is divided into six units, each led by a guest instructor (or instructors) from a different department, focussing on topics from one or more of the following four clusters: Mind, Brain, Computer, and Society.
Learning objective (mind): Understanding of the central questions in the metaphysics of mind
Learning objective (brain): Knowledge of cognitive neuroscience as a scientific discipline
Learning objective (computer): Knowledge of the aims, principles, and tools of artificial intelligence
Learning objective (mind/society): Knowledge of the science of language development and function
Learning objective (society): Understanding of the importance of cross-species research on cognition
Learning objective (society): Understanding of the importance of cross-cultural research on human cognition
- You will be able to explain and apply core concepts from the philosophy of mind
- You will be able to critically discuss the main philosophical theories about the nature of the mind
Learning objective (brain): Knowledge of cognitive neuroscience as a scientific discipline
- You will be able to describe widely used brain imaging approaches to understanding human brain function and dysfunction
- You will be able to critically evaluate research and theory in cognitive neuroscience
Learning objective (computer): Knowledge of the aims, principles, and tools of artificial intelligence
- You will be able to discuss one or more existing intelligent agent projects, including their basic principles, learning paradigms, and input mechanisms
Learning objective (mind/society): Knowledge of the science of language development and function
- You will be able to discuss mechanisms of language and cognitive development
- You will be able to summarize general theories concerning the relationship between language and thought
- You will be able to evaluate experimental evidence in support of these mechanisms and theories
Learning objective (society): Understanding of the importance of cross-species research on cognition
- You will be able to interpret cross-species data on cognition, particularly from other primate species
- You will be able to discuss its significance for understanding the evolutionary basis of human cognition
Learning objective (society): Understanding of the importance of cross-cultural research on human cognition
- You will be able to interpret cross-cultural data on human cognition
- You will be able to summarize and discuss relevant data from non-WEIRD cultures (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich Democracies)
- You will be able to use data to evaluate theories of human cognition