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?
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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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
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of philosophical issues with computational models of the mind
- Demonstrate familiarity with relevant examples of computational models of the mind
- Demonstrate ability to bring philosophical considerations to bear in scientific contexts
- Demonstrate skills in research, analysis and argumentation
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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
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Enquiry and lifelong learning
This course will foster students' propensity to seek personal and academic learning that makes a positive difference to themselves and to the world around them. Inspired by their exposure to world-leading research, the course will increase their likelihood of becoming innovative and lifelong learners.
Aspiration and personal development
This course will foster students' propensity to draw on their initiative and experience to expand and fulfil their potential. The course will increase their likelihood of being able to make the most of a confident and reflective approach, and to take personal responsibility for pursuing their goals and opportunities to grow.
Skills
Research and enquiry
This course will put students in a position to use their highly-developed skills in research and enquiry to identify and creatively tackle problems, and to seek out opportunities for learning.
Personal and intellectual autonomy
This course will put students in a position to use their personal and intellectual autonomy to critically evaluate ideas, evidence and experiences from an open-minded and reasoned perspective.
Personal effectiveness
This course will foster students' development as effective and proactive individuals, skilled in influencing positively and adapting to new situations with sensitivity and integrity.
Communication
This course will foster students' ability to use skilled communication to enhance their understanding of a topic or context and to engage effectively with others.
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| Keywords | computation,philosophy,mind,consciousness,externalism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Sprevak
Tel:
Email: msprevak@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Cameron Findlay
Tel:
Email: cameron.findlay@ed.ac.uk |
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