Universität Wien

180218 VO-L Cognitive Science - Introduction and Basic Concepts (2024W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

Sprache: Englisch

Prüfungstermine

Lehrende

Termine


Dates, times & locations:

Sept 27, 2024 | 13.00 - 19h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 7, 2nd floor, ) | https://goo.gl/maps/zexCfcuDbJJtQjmz7
Introduction & Community Building (first meeting/Vorbesprechung)
This unit is open only to MEi:CogSci students!

Oct 1, 2024 | 9 – 11h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 7, 2nd floor, room C0228, III.Stiege)
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)!

Oct 1, 2024 | 11–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 7, 2nd floor, room C0228, III.Stiege)
Introduction: What is Cognitive Science? (+ first meeting/Vorbesprechung)
This unit is open to all students

Mo Oct 7, 2024 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science I
Cognitivist/Symbolic/propositional approach to cognition, Physical Symbol Systems Hypothesis (PSSH)

Mo Oct 14, 2024 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 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 Oct 21, 2024 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 7, 2nd floor)
Approaches and Paradigms in Cognitive Science III
Dynamical systems approach to cognition
Embodied cognition/knowledge, situated cognition, Artificial Life

Mo Nov 4, 2024 | 9–13h | HS 2i (NIG, Universitätstrasse 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

Exam (see dates above)


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 also: https://homepage.univie.ac.at/franz-markus.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/(computational) modelling.

The second focus 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, cultural and social aspects of cognition, the role of artifacts, 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 focus of this course deals with philosophy of science and epistemological issues 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 introduction to the field of cognitive science are very 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/services/mailing-lists/

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

This exam will be in the format of an 4h online open-book exam
Start/end date/times: see this page

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.

You can find the examination dates/times and all information about the examination procedure/modalities in the examination dates section of this course.

If you are registered for this exam date, you will receive the questions/question sheet for this exam via mail at the start date/time. You have until the end time/date for working on these questions. After this period you have to upload your exam via moodle. You will find all instructions on the question sheets.

Some information for your preparation:
* you have to write your exam in electronic form (i.e., no handwritten papers)
* you have to submit your answers electronically as a pdf file (see below)
* you may use all resources (you have to quote them, however!)
* there will be a plagiarism check upon your submission (Turnitin)
* Working language: English
* If unauthorized aids (e.g., any kind of plagiarism; including also generative [AI] technologies (if not quoted/made explicit)) are used and/or the exam is not written by yourself, the exam will not be graded and documented with an X in the transcript of records.
* In case you make use of generative [AI] technologies, you have to make it recognizable & make explicit, in which way you used it (e.g., by specifying the prompt and tool used, link to your conversation, etc). In case there is a suspicion that you have not declared the use of these technologies, the statutes of the University of Vienna foresee a plausibility check by the course instructor (in the form of a personal face-2-face conversation/exam [with relevance for your grade]).
* Find some background information and directions on using AI-tools/technologies (if you chose to do so) in your studies here: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/studying-exams/ai-in-studies-and-teaching/
* If the exam is aborted without good reason or not uploaded to Moodle within the specified period of time, the exam will be graded as "nicht genügend".
* if you experience any difficulties or if you did not receive the question sheet by the above given time, please contact the course instructor *immediately* via mail: franz-markus.peschl@univie.ac.at

At the given end time/date, at the latest, you will have to turn in/upload your exam via the exam submission section in the Moodle Course of this lecture. A compulsory plagiarism check (Turnitin) is made during upload.

Legal information on digital examinations for students: https://studienpraeses.univie.ac.at/infos-zum-studienrecht/pruefungen/digitales-pruefen/

For further information see below

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

This exam will be in the format of an 4h online open-book exam:
On the published date/time of the examination you will receive the questions via mail (if you are registered for this exam)
At the given end time/date, at the latest, you will have to turn in your exam via the exam submission section in the Moodle Course of this course.

As this is an open-book exam, you may use all (re)sources that are available to you (except your colleagues). See also remarks on the use of (generative) AI tools in the assessment and permitted materials section of this course.
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, high quality papers are expected 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.

Evaluation criteria:
- The exam has to be written in English
- Originality
- Development & expression of your own standpoint/perspective
- Quality of arguments
- Level of (personal) reflection
- Consideration of your background discipline
- Interdisciplinarity
- Use of scientific references

Grading:
%/points | grade
93-100 | sehr gut (1)
81-92 | gut (2)
71-80 | befriedigend (3)
61-70 | genügend (4)
0-60 | nicht genügend (5)

* 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

The Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science [OECS] (MIT Press): https://oecs.mit.edu/

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.
Bermudez, J.L. (2020). Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Science of the Mind (third ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
Berkovich-Ohana A, et al. (2020). The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Neurophenomenology – The Case of Studying Self Boundaries With Meditators. Front. Psychol. 11:1680. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01680 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01680/full
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.
Gallagher, S. (2023). Embodied and enactive approaches to cognition. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
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.
Hohwy, J. (2020). New directions in predictive processing. Mind and Language 35, 209–223.
Krippendorff, K. (2006). The semantic turn. A new foundation for design. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor and Francis CRC Press.
Malafouris, L. (2019). Mind and material engagement. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 18, 1–17.
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.
Prather, R. W. et al. (2022). What Can Cognitive Science Do for People? Cognitive Science, 46(6), e13167. https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13167
Thompson, E. and M. Stapleton (2009). Making sense of sense-making. Reflections on enactive and extended mind theories. Topoi 28, 23–30.
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.
Ward, D., D. Silverman, and M. Villalobos (2017). Introduction: The varieties of enactivism. Topoi 36(3), 365–375.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Mi 18.09.2024 12:26