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Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences

Approx. 10 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Explore the intersection between philosophy and cognitive science in this course, where you'll learn about the nature of the mind, consciousness, and more.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deeper understanding of the nature of the mind and consciousness
Learn about the relationship between philosophy and cognitive science
Explore the latest research and debates in the field

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

- USA: $80,000
- India: ₹6,00,000
- Spain: €35,000
- USA: $80,000
- India: ₹6,00,000
- Spain: €35,000
- USA: $70,000
- India: ₹5,00,000
- Spain: €30,000
- USA: $80,000
- India: ₹6,00,000
- Spain: €35,000
- USA: $70,000
- India: ₹5,00,000
- Spain: €30,000
- USA: $90,000
- India: ₹7,00,000
- Spain: €40,000

Learning Outcomes

Develop a deeper understanding of the nature of the mind and consciousness
Learn to analyze and evaluate different philosophical and scientific theories about the mind
Gain critical thinking skills and the ability to engage in informed debates about the mind and cognitive science

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic familiarity with philosophy and cognitive science
Willingness to engage in critical thinking and debate

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures
Interactive quizzes

Similar Courses

Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science
Consciousness and Its Implications
Introduction to Philosophy

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Daniel Dennett
Patricia Churchland
David Chalmers

Related Books

Description

Course Description

What is our role in the universe as human agents capable of knowledge? What makes us intelligent cognitive agents seemingly endowed with consciousness? This is the second part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences. Scientific research across the cognitive sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the cognitive sciences. Each week we will introduce you to some of these important questions at the forefront of scientific research. We will explain the science behind each topic in a simple, non-technical way, while also addressing the philosophical and conceptual questions arising from it. Areas you’ll learn about will include: Philosophy of psychology, among whose issues we will cover the evolution of the human mind and the nature of consciousness. Philosophy of neurosciences, where we’ll consider the nature of human cognition and the relation between mind, machines, and the environment. Learning objectives Gain a fairly well-rounded view on selected areas and topics at the intersection of philosophy and the sciences Understand some key questions, and conceptual problems arising in the cognitive sciences. Develop critical skills to evaluate and assess these problems. Suggested Readings To accompany 'Philosophy and the Sciences', we are pleased to announce a tie-in book from Routledge entitled 'Philosophy and the Sciences for Everyone'. This course companion to the 'Philosophy and the Sciences' course was written by the Edinburgh Philosophy and the Sciences team expressly with the needs of MOOC students in mind. 'Philosophy and the Sciences for Everyone' contains clear and user-friendly chapters, chapter summaries, glossary, study questions, suggestions for further reading and guides to online resources. Please note, this companion book is optional - all the resources needed to complete the course are available freely and listed on the course site.

Outline

Philosophy and the Sciences Part 1
Link to Philosophy and the Physical Sciences

Stone-age minds in modern skulls: evolutionary theory and the philosophy of mind (Suilin Lavelle and Kenny Smith)
1.1 Stone-Age Minds Part I
1.2 Stone-Age Minds Part II
1.3 Stone-Age Minds Part III
Handout
Recommended readings
The evolution of language
Niche Construction
Chimpanzee culture social learning
Related work by Philosophy staff at the University of Edinburgh
Week 1 Quiz: Do our modern skulls house stone-age minds?

What is consciousness? (Mark Sprevak and David Carmel)
2.1 What is Consciousness Part I
2.2 What is Consciousness Part II
Handout from Mark's lectures
Slides from David's lectures
Recommended readings
Access/Phenomenal consciousness distinction
Overview of philosophical problems concerning consciousness
Limitations of perceptual awareness
Related work by Philosophy staff at the University of Edinburgh
Week 2 Quiz: What is consciousness?

Intelligent machines and the human brain (Mark Sprevak and Peggy Series)
3.1 Intelligent Machines Part I
3.2 Intelligent Machines Part II
Find and share news on intelligent machines!
Recommended readings
Computational theory of mind and connectionism
The McGurk effect video
The Ames illusion video
Motion perception
The rotating mask illusion video
Related work by Philosophy staff at the University of Edinburgh
Week 3 Quiz: From intelligent machines to the human brain

Embodied cognition (Andy Clark and Barbara Webb)
4.1 Embodied Cognition Part I
4.2 Embodied Cognition Part II
Lecture Slides
Recommended readings
Embodied Cognition further reading
Passive-dynamic walkers video
The current crop of robots
Design your own robot
Related work by Philosophy staff at the University of Edinburgh
Week 4 Quiz: Embodied cognition and the sciences of the mind

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating intersection between philosophy and cognitive sciences with this course on Coursera. Users have praised the course for its in-depth exploration of key topics and engaging lecturers. While some users have noted that the course can be challenging, it is generally seen as a worthwhile investment for those interested in the subject matter.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

engaging lecturers

Pros from User Reviews

In-depth exploration of key topics
High-quality course materials
Engaging and knowledgeable lecturers
Excellent preparation for further study
Great value for money

Cons from User Reviews

Challenging assignments and quizzes
Some users found the pace of the course to be too fast
Limited interaction with other students
Occasional technical issues with the platform
Some users found the course to be too theoretical

languageEnglish

start dateAvailable now

durationApprox. 10 hours to complete

teacher Professor Michela Massimi, Dr. Alasdair Richmond, Dr. Suilin Lavelle, Dr David Carmel, Dr Mark Sprevak, Professor Duncan Pritchard, Professor Andy Clark, Professor John Peacock, Professor Barbara Webb, Dr Kenny Smith, Dr Peggy Series

institutionThe University of Edinburgh

course taken onCoursera

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