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FCH_PHI452A

The document outlines the course PHI452A: Philosophy of Cognitive Science, taught by Lalit Saraswat at IIT Kanpur. It details the course's structure, evaluation methods, and main themes, including dualism, behaviorism, and consciousness, while emphasizing the importance of the course materials' copyright. Additionally, it provides a list of references and reading materials relevant to the course.

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9 views

FCH_PHI452A

The document outlines the course PHI452A: Philosophy of Cognitive Science, taught by Lalit Saraswat at IIT Kanpur. It details the course's structure, evaluation methods, and main themes, including dualism, behaviorism, and consciousness, while emphasizing the importance of the course materials' copyright. Additionally, it provides a list of references and reading materials relevant to the course.

Uploaded by

jj9693447
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FCH:PHI452A

From Lalit Saraswat <[email protected]>


To <[email protected]>, Lalits <[email protected]>
Date 2023-07-30 23:53

Dear Students,

Philosophy of Cognitive Science

(PHI452A)

Lalit Saraswat

Aug 2022

The instructor of this course owns the copyright of all the course materials. This lecture material was distributed only to the students attending the course PHI452 Philosophy of
Cognitive Science at IIT Kanpur, and should not be distributed in print or through electronic media without the consent of the instructor. Students can make their own copies of the
course materials for their use.

Course Outline:

In the last half-century, the rise of cognitive science has been accompanied by a significant amount of philosophical activity. Cognitive science is the scientific study of cognition, and
cognitive science philosophy is the area of philosophy that tackles philosophical issues raised by the scientific study of cognition. This course aims to introduce students to key concepts in
cognitive science and philosophy. The primary concepts are dualism, behaviorism, functionalism, and connectionism. We will discuss these issues using influential classical and modern
philosophical readings and empirical research.

Course Structure:

1. Introduction: Cognition and Science


2. Dualism, Mind-body Problem, Behaviourism, Problems
3. The mind as machine: the computational theory of mind, eliminative materialism

4. Modularity of mind
5. Language and Knowledge acquisition: Chomsky’s account of language.
6. Embedded and embodied cognition
7. The cognitive science of consciousness

Course Evaluation (Tentative):

1. Mid-Sem Exam: 30%

2. Assignments/Term/ Thought Paper/s (1-2) Details to be discussed: 30%


3. End Sem Exam: 30%

4. Attendance/Participation: 10%;

Strict Plagiarism Penalty (to be discussed/shared in the session)

Main themes, topics and challenges:

Memory, Modularity, Innateness and empiricism in cognitive science, Consciousness, Language, Brain and Cognition, Embodied and Extended cognition

References

1. Cain, Mark J. The philosophy of cognitive science. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.
2. Clark, Andy. Mindware: An introduction to the philosophy of cognitive science. Oxford University Press, 2000.
3. Fodor, Jerry A. ‘’Representations: Philosophical essays on the foundations of cognitive science.” (1981).
4. Goldman, Alvin I., ed. Readings in philosophy and cognitive science. Mit Press, 1993.
5. Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Philosophy in the Flesh., MIT publishers (1999).
6. Boden, Margaret, and Mind As Machine. A History of Cognitive Science Two- Volume Set. (2006).
7. Posner, Michael I., ed. Foundations of cognitive science. Cambridge, MA: MIT press, 1989.
8. Fodor, Jerry A. Concepts: Where cognitive science went wrong. Oxford University Press, 1998.
9. Smith, John-Christian, ed. Historical foundations of cognitive science. Vol. 46. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012.
10. Carter, Matt. Minds and Computers: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. Edinburgh University
Press, 2007.
11. Gardner, H., The Mind’s New Science: A History of Cognitive Revolution, 1987.
12. Rey, Georges. Contemporary philosophy of mind: A contentiously classical approach (1997).

reading materials

Check these

1- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/substance/

2- https://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/zeta17.htm

3- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cognitive-science/

4- https://www.jstor.org/stable/3101119#metadata_info_tab_contents
5- https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2246561.pdf

6- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039368118302383

7- https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/James/automata.htm
--
Lalit Saraswat
Assistant Professor | Philosophy
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Office: 603, Motwani Building,
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur 208016
Tel: +91-512-679-2093 (office)
Mobile:
Email: lalits[@]iitk.ac.in
Homepage: http://iitk.ac.in/new/lalit-saraswat

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