Universität Wien

180118 VO Cognitive Science - Introduction and Basic Concepts (2020W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

* For further information see: http://www.univie.ac.at/knowledge/peschl/
Moodle

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").
Für diese LV an-/abmelden

Details

Sprache: Englisch

Prüfungstermine

Lehrende

Termine

COVID-19 Information:
As the exact number of participating students is not known yet, it is still open whether this course will be offered in presence or online.
If you are registered for this course, you will be informed about the teaching modalities via mail in time.
In any case, the dates/times below remain the same.
Please take a look at the associated Moodle Course for all information concerning the shift to online learning for this course (online learning tools, etc.)!

--- Update Sept 20, 2020 ----
This course will be given as an online course. The dates and times remain the same as described below!
You can find all information (logins, slides, etc.) in the associated Moodle Course.

Dates, times & locations:
Thu Oct 1, 2020 | 13.30 - 19h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor) | https://goo.gl/maps/zexCfcuDbJJtQjmz7
Introduction & Community Building (first meeting/Vorbesprechung)
This unit is open only to MEi:CogSci students!
Mo Oct 5, 2020 | 9 – 11h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Presentation of MEi:CogSci courses and Mentoring
This unit is open only to MEi:CogSci students (and students who are interested in other courses offered by the MEi:CogSci program)!
Mo Oct 5, 2020 | 11–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Introduction: What is Cognitive Science? (+ first meeting/Vorbesprechung)
This unit is open to all students
Mo Oct 12, 2020 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science I
Cognitivist/Symbolic/propositional approach to cognition, Physical Symbol Systems Hypothesis (PSSH)
Mo Oct 19, 2020 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science II
Neural computation/networks, computational neuroscience, and connectionism
Basic concepts: Spreading activations, learning, subsymbolic representation
Mo Nov 9, 2020 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science III
Dynamical systems approach to cognition
Embodied cognition/knowledge, situated cognition, Artificial Life
Mo Nov 16, 2020 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitäststrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science IV
Recent developments in Cognitive Science, 4E approaches & Philosophy of Science/Epistemological Foundations of Cognitive Science
Embedded & extended cognition, Enactivism, artifacts and cultural cognition
Predictive Mind/Coding
Overspill

Examinations:
see below.
Important notes:
* You have to *register* for this course via https://uspace.univie.ac.at/ | Otherwise we cannot issue a grade and you will not have access to the Moodle Platform. Further information about the registration period can be found in the description of this course and here: https://ssc-phil.univie.ac.at/en/
* It is highly recommended to combine this course with the course „Cognitive Science Peer Teaching Course KU“ for all students of the MEi:CogSci program and for those who want to deepen their knowledge in Cognitive Science.
* By registering for this course, you agree that the automated plagiarism check software Turnitin will check all written (partial) performances and exams submitted by you (via Moodle).
* For further information see http://www.univie.ac.at/knowledge/peschl/

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

This lecture gives an introduction into the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science. It is designed to present and discuss the basic concepts of cognitive science, its particular (inter-)disciplinary structure, its models, paradigms, as well as its methods.

The focus of this lecture is on discovering and understanding the “big lines/trends” and theoretical trains of thought in the field of cognitive science. First, the object, the interdisciplinary structure, as well as the two fundamental concepts of cognitive science will be investigated: the paradigm of (cognition as) computation and the method of simulation.

The second part of this course covers the most important paradigms having been developed in the course of the relatively short history of cognitive science (historical and conceptual overview): the cognitivist/symbolic/propositional approach, mental imagery, neural computation/networks/connectionism, deep learning, the dynamical systems approach to cognition, embodied and situated cognition, extended cognition and enactivism, 4E approaches to cognition, predictive mind, as well as Artificial Life. In order to achieve a more profound understanding of these paradigms and their relations between each other we will take a closer look at the questions of what concept of cognition, knowledge, learning, etc. is prevalent in the particular approach. This will lead to a more integrative as well as interdisciplinary perspective taking into account the contributions of the participating disciplines.

The third part of this course deals with philosophy of science issues and epistemological of cognitive science: the process of (scientific) knowledge generation/construction and its cognitive foundation, the role of the method of simulation in the process of knowledge production (analytical vs. synthetic approach), scientific vs. everyday knowledge, types of knowledge (and their generation), knowledge construction, etc.

Besides that this course takes a closer critical look at the paradoxes, open questions, and problems in this relatively young field of science.

Target audience: This lecture is primarily designed as an introductory course for students of the MEi:CogSci curriculum. Of course, students from all other disciplines who want to get an overview of the field of cognitive science are welcome to participate in this course as well. This course is designed for an interdisciplinary audience, however students should be at least in the final state of their baccalaureate or early masters studies.

It is highly recommended to combine this course with the course „Cognitive Science Peer Teaching Course KU“ for all students of the MEi:CogSci program and for those who want to deepen their knowledge in Cognitive Science.
The slides for this lecture will be provided on the Moodle Platform.

If you are interested in being informed about cognitive science activities at the University of Vienna and in Vienna, have a look at the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub -> https://cogsci.univie.ac.at/
and subscribe to one of the mailing lists: https://cogsci.univie.ac.at/news-media/mailing-lists/

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Examinations:
The examination of this course will be in the form of an online "take-home exam"
You can find the examination dates/times and all information about the examination procedure/modalities in the examination dates section of this course.
You have to register for the examination via https://uspace.univie.ac.at/ before the respective deadlines for exam registration! Otherwise you will not receive a grade for this exam.

For further information see below

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

The examination of this course will be in the form of an online "take-home exam":
On the published date/time of the examination you will receive the questions via mail (if you are registered for this exam)
After 24h, at the latest, you will have to turn in your exam via the exam submission section in the Moodle Course of this course.

You have 24 hours to work on the questions at home.
As this is an open-book exam, you may use all (re)sources that are available to you (except your colleagues).
Evaluation criteria:
- You are expected to produce a paper in the form of a short scientific paper (arguments, references, etc.) for 3 questions.
- As you may use all (re)sources and this exam offers plenty of time to work for you, we expect high quality papers in which you do not repeat/copy existing material; rather, you are expected to make your own point and argument and express you own standpoint with respect to the question.
- The exam has to be written in English.
- Originality.
- Quality of arguments.
- Consideration of your background discipline.
- Interdisciplinarity.

* You have to register for the chosen examination date via U:SPACE https://uspace.univie.ac.at/ before the registration deadline of the respective examination date! Otherwise you will not receive a grade for this exam.
* If you do not have the necessary technical infrastructure (computer, internet access, etc.) to take the exam, please inform the course instructor at least 2 weeks before the exam date.
* By registering for this course, you agree that the automated plagiarism check software Turnitin will check all written (partial) performances and/or exams submitted by you (in Moodle).

Prüfungsstoff

The topics of the exam will be the discussion and interdisciplinary reflection of the topics, approaches, concepts, and models having been covered in the lecture.
The slides for this lecture will be provided on the Moodle Platform.

Literatur

Suggested readings:
Bechtel, W. and A. Abrahamsen (2002). Connectionism and the mind. Parallel processing, dynamics, and evolution in networks (second ed.). Malden, MA; Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers.
Clark, A. (2001). Mindware. An introduction to the philosophy of cognitive science. New York: Oxford University Press.
Clark, A. (2008). Supersizing the mind. Embodiment, action, and cognitive extension. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
Clark, A. (2013). Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 36(3), 1–73.
Clark, A. (2016). Surfing uncertainty. Prediction, action, and the embodied mind. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
De Jaegher, H. (2019). Loving and knowing: reflections for an engaged epistemology. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 2019.
Fingerhut, J., R. Hufendiek, and M. Wild (2013). Philosophie der Verkörperung. Einleitung. In J. Fingerhut, R. Hufendiek, and M. Wild (Eds.), Philosophie der Verkörperung. Grundlagentexte zu einer aktuellen Debatte, pp. 9–102. Berlin: Suhrkamp.
Friedenberg, J. and G. Silverman (2012). Cognitive science. An introduction to the study of the mind (second ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Froese, T. and E.A. Di Paolo (2011). The enactive approach. Theoretical sketches from cell to society. Pragmatics & Cognition 19(1), 1–36.
Harre, R. (2002). Cognitive science. A philosophical introduction. London: SAGE Publications.
Heras-Escribano, M. (2019). Pragmatism, enactivism, and ecological psychology: towards a unified approach to post-cognitivism. Synthese 196, 1–27.
Hohwy, J. (2013). The Predictive Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Krippendorff, K. (2006). The semantic turn. A new foundation for design. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor and Francis CRC Press.
Menary, R. (Ed.). (2010). The extended mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Nunez, R., M. Allen, R. Gao et al. (2019). What happened to cognitive science?. Nature Human Behaviour 3, 782–791.
Varela, F.J., E. Thompson, and E. Rosch (2016, 2nd ed.). The embodied mind: cognitive science and human experience. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Walter, S. (2014). Kognition. Stuttgart: Reclam Verlag.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Fr 12.05.2023 00:18