200252 SE Vertiefungsseminar: Geist und Gehirn (2025S)

Aims: Through discussions–in English–centered on the reading and consideration of target research or theory papers, we aim to foster critical thinking in the area of Psychology and the Cognitive Sciences. After taking this course, attendees should be especially able to reflect on the “bigger picture” underlying academic discussions and to approach scientific communications and ideas (more) critically. Unlike many other courses, which target specific empirical studies, this course will be focusing on seminal papers, ideas, or book chapters, which provide the framework and context for much of Psychology and Cognitive Science's activities itself––Where do our terms, our problems, our solutions in Psychology come from? Why is this so?

Second, the course aims to train skills in participating in discussions in English—in a “safe space” with minimal pressure and with an emphasis on communication, discussion, and collaboratively unpacking course topics.

Contents: The seminar involves reading, presenting, and discussing seminal papers or book chapters in Psychology/Cognitive Sciences. This includes topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Psychology as a Science, how research findings can be generalized, the replication crisis, Philosophy of Mind, research practices, diversity in psychology, etc. Our discussions will also (hopefully) regularly touch relevant topics of everyday life, such as the future of science, consequences of digitalization, cultural dependence on psychological concepts, development of language, truth, or free will.

Methods: The course is centered on student-led presentations of a paper/book chapter, student-guided discussion of the text in the seminar, and active class discussion.

Students are also required to listen to podcasts weekly on related topics AND to attend and be prepared to discuss the weekly research colloquium (specific schedule to be determined throughout course).