Postgraduate Course: The Computational Mind MSc (PHIL11115)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
Please see Learn page |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Computational models dominate modern psychology. Over the past forty years, computational models have scored numerous and impressive successes in explaining mental phenomena. Today, the computational approach in psychology is regarded as our best hope of understanding the human mind. These models raise numerous foundational philosophical questions. The models also appear to have the potential to contribute to, and perhaps even answer, long-standing philosophical questions about the mind. This course explores the important philosophical issues raised by a computational approach to explaining the mind.
Representative topics covered by the course include:
- What is a computational theory of mind?
- If the mind is a computer, what kind is it?
- What does it mean for a brain to implement a computation?
- Is computation a real feature of the world, or a projection of our interests?
- Can consciousness be explained by computation?
- Are computations intrinsic to the brain or do they spill into the environment?
Taught by Dr Mark Sprevak.
The Computational Mind MSc is also shared with the undergraduate version The Computational Mind (PHIL10134).
Formative feedback available:
- Opportunity to submit a formative essay
- Weekly forum discussion posts on the set readings
- Dedicated MSc reading group
- Adhoc postgraduate-only tutorials will be available
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: 5 |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 21,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
To develop further the philosophical skills, and to extend as well as deepen the philosophical knowledge, acquired in previous courses.
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Assessment Information
One essay of 2500 words.
Assignment deadline: Monday 20th April 2015 by 12 noon
Word limit: 2500 maximum
Return deadline: Tuesday 12th May 2015 |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
An ability to approach and characterise problems in a rigorous and systematic way. |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Sprevak
Tel:
Email: msprevak@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk |
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