Undergraduate Course: The Computational Mind (PHIL10134)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Computation is the dominant approach to explaining how the mind works within psychology and neuroscience. Artificial intelligence also now holds out the promise of recreating human-like mental capacities in computing machines. This seems to suggest that cognition (thought, perception, even emotion) is a kind of computation. This course introduces the philosophical background to computational approach to the mind, exploring some foundational questions and challenges that it faces. |
| Course description |
Topics covered by the course include:
- What is a computation?
- If the mind is a computer, what kind is it?
- Is computation a real feature of brain, or a projection of our interests?
- Can consciousness be explained by computation?
- Are cognitive computations in the brain or do they spill into the
environment?
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their Student adviser and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm essay 1500 Words (40%);
Final essay 2500 Words (55%);
Participation (5%). |
| Feedback |
Written feedback on essays
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
| To develop further the philosophical skills, and to extend as well as deepen the philosophical knowledge, acquired in previous philosophy courses.
|
Reading List
Representative Texts:
Haugeland, John (1985) Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press
Husbands, Phil and Owen Holland (2008) The Mechanical Mind in History.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Sprevak, Mark and Matteo Colombo (2018) The Routledge Handbook of the
Computational Mind. New York: Routledge
|
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/24-25/dpt/cxphil10134.htm |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The Computational Mind is a fourth year honours level course which investigates the philosophical foundations of the theory that mind is the product of computational processes in brains and artificial systems. Instruction occurs in class through lectures, seminar discussions, and group work. These activities develop skills of openness to different perspectives, challenging one's own perspectives and assumptions, critical thinking, critical analysis and evaluation, oral communication, group work, self reflection, and understanding broader perspectives. Students are expected to read ahead for the classes, requiring them to develop skills of independence, academic reading skills, preparation/planning/organisation, and workload management, as well as critical analysis and evaluation. Assessment is via two submitted essays and class presentations. The essays develop skills of formulation and justification of original arguments, independence, research skills, clear and concise writing, and written communication, as well as critical analysis and evaluation. The presentation develops skills of adapting presentation to audience, presentation skills, and public speaking.
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Adapting presentation or writing tone/style to audience; Being open to different perspectives; Critical thinking; Critical analysis and evaluation; Formulating original arguments and justifying it; Oral communication (discussion, debating respectfully, influencing); Preparation, planning and organisation; Independence; Presentation skills ; Public speaking; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Self-reflection; Time management; Understanding broader perspectives; Workload management; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely; Challenging own perspectives and assumptions; Group work (delegation, influencing, conflict resolution, motivating others, taking responsibility); Interdisciplinary evaluation of scientific and technological innovations |
| Keywords | computation,philosophy,mind,consciousness,externalism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Sprevak
Tel:
Email: msprevak@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Joan MacKenzie
Tel:
Email: jmacken8@ed.ac.uk |
|
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