Undergraduate Course: Cognition and its Social Embedding (SCIL10038)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Sociology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Cognitive science understands human communication, reasoning, learning etc. in terms of computations over systems of representation - natural languages, diagrams etc. But communication, reasoning, and learning are essentially social processes. It is sometimes argued that all accounts of the essentially social nature of cognitive processes are incompatible with computational accounts of cognition. This course is about exploring the supposed incompatibilities.
Formal theories (logic, computation, statistics, rational choice theory) figure in social science both as theorists' analyses of 'natural' phenomena (the system-as-nature stance) and as technologies used by participants in their reasoning (the system-as-technology stance). The interplay can enrich our ideas of computation and perhaps reconcile approaches.
The course will not assume any background in psychology, cognitive science, logic or computer science, but will assume a willingness to learn enough of the fundamental concepts of these subjects for a sociological appraisal of their aims and methods, strengths and shortcomings. The course will be heavily dependent on students' own sociological contributions. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Sociology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Cognitive science understands human communication, reasoning, learning etc. in terms of computations over systems of representation - natural languages, diagrams etc. But communication, reasoning, and learning are essentially social processes. It is sometimes argued that all accounts of the essentially social nature of cognitive processes are incompatible with computational accounts of cognition. This course is about exploring the supposed incompatibilities.
Formal theories (logic, computation, statistics, rational choice theory) figure in social science both as theorists' analyses of 'natural' phenomena (the system-as-nature stance) and as technologies used by participants in their reasoning (the system-as-technology stance). The interplay can enrich our ideas of computation and perhaps reconcile approaches.
The course will not assume any background in psychology, cognitive science, logic or computer science, but will assume a willingness to learn enough of the fundamental concepts of these subjects for a sociological appraisal of their aims and methods, strengths and shortcomings. The course will be heavily dependent on students' own sociological contributions.
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Assessment Information
| A combination of coursework and/or exams with details to be specified by Course Organiser at first class |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | Ms Sue Renton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk |
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