72515 - Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences (1)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to convey the main positions within the current cognitive science and to allow the student to deal with and discuss the principal topics in the fields of cognitive science, philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence, and epistemology of cognitive science. Relevant topics of the course will be the evolution of the notion of intelligence through XX and XXI centuries, with particular reference to rationality, decision theory, related philosophical subjects, cognitive modeling, psychological framework of research, different methodologies of studying mental processes, and neuroscience debate. At the end of the course, students will be able to orientate themselves among the different disciplines constituting cognitive science and to connect them from a philosophical and epistemological point of view.

Course contents

The course deals with philosophical subjects as the nature of perception and representation, the knowledge representation, the relation between mind and brain, the hard problem of consciousness, the extended mind theory and some topics of social cognition. Particular importance will be given to the outlining the current debate on the up-to-date topics in cognitive science (artificial intelligence, robotics, new trends in cognitive science from a philosophical standpoint), also in reference to the neuroscience debate on mental capabilities investigation. Topics will be treated in the framework of complexity and of the contemporary world of communication through digital devices.

Readings/Bibliography

M. Marraffa, A. Paternoster,  Persone, menti, cervelli , Mondadori, Milano, 2012. 
English texts could be suggested for non-Italian speaker students.

Assessment methods

Student will be tested through an oral examination in which s/he will face general subjects of cognitive science and specific subjects of fields involved in this disciplinary approach. The knowledge of the topics of the course and the capability of using them autonomously will be taken into consideration, together with the ability in producing personal remarks on the contents developed during the lessons. If it will be possible, student will require to apply main concepts to specific experiences of research of other disciplines in which the student has been involved.

 

In particular, the achievement of the following targets will have a growing weight:

1) the completeness of the basic knowledge strictly connected to the program;

2) the appropriateness of the specific language;

3) the capability of personally re-using concepts learned during the course;

4) the capability to manage interdisciplinary reflections and argumentations;

5) the capability to apply to specific research cases the subjects of the epistemology and to produce autonomous and original remarks.

 

1) and 2) are the lowest targets for the pass mark. 3) could give a fair evaluation, the more being so the less learned knowledge will be mnemonic. 4) is for a good outcome, 5) for an excellent one.

 

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Bianchini