General Information

Texts

* Paul Thagard. Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science [eBook ISBN: 0585003149]
* Stillings, et. al. Cognitive Science: An Introduction, 2nd ed. [eBook ISBN: 0585038295]
* Andy Clark. Mindware: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science.
* Additional Readings To Be Distributed in Class. 

 
Course Description

Every day we have perceptions about our environment; we communicate our ideas and intentions; we plan, reason, and make decisions; and we store and recall information. The fundamental question of cognitive science is how does the mind/brain do all these things? In order to answer this question cognitive science uses theories and methods drawn from many disciplines, including psychology (especially cognitive psychology), computer science (especially artificial intelligence), philosophy (especially philosophy of mind and philosophy of language), linguistics, anthropology and zoology. Researchers in these fields are bound together by a fundamental methodological assumption, namely that it is possible and useful to consider the mind as an information-processing system that accomplishes specific functions, has a discernable structure, and is implemented in the brain.

This class will provide you to an introduction to the field, and will therefore be useful to anyone planning a research career in cognitive science, or in any of the related disciplines. Cognitive science also holds intrinsic interest for just about anybody; the mind/brain is both the most complex physical system known, and the basis of all civilization, as well as every aspect of our experience of an interaction with the world.

Assessment

10%     1 - Class Presentation
30%     6 - Shared Reaction Papers
50%     Final Paper (2 drafts + Meeting)
10%     Peer Reviews and Class Participation

Expectations

Reading Assignments: The reading assignments for this course are listed below. It is important that you come to class prepared. You should complete the week’s reading assignment prior to the start of the week. Failure to read the assignments will hamper your ability to follow class discussions, and will ultimately affect your ability to do well in the class.

Attendance: I expect you to attend class and to participate in class sessions. Presentations, verbal explanation, class exercises, and question and answer sessions greatly enhance one’s understanding of the material. These activities take place in the classroom so your attendance at class meetings is important. Regular attendance is not, however, sufficient to do well in this course. Feel free to use class time to ask any lingering questions you may have about the material. If you find something to be difficult or confusing, chances are that other students do as well. Note that students must be in class on the day of the reading in order for a reaction paper to count.