Cognitive Science Theory, 6 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master Programme in Cognitive Science

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or
  Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  and
  30 ECTS credits in one of the following subject areas
  - Psychology
  - Linguistics
  - Philosophy
  - Neuroscience
  - Anthropology
  or
  Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology of Neuroscience equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  30 ECTS credits passed in Computer Science
   
• English and Swedish corresponding to the level of English and Swedish in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6 and Svenska 3)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• use the central philosophic concepts that are used when describing human mental abilities and properties;
• discuss and compare the most important theories about mental representations and cognitive architecture, and explain how these theories are linked to basic metaphysical and methodological views;
• account for central elements in some of the most important debates in the intersection for cognition research, neurophysiology, philosophy of mind and linguistics.
• relate these questions to current problems within cognitive-scientific research

Course content

The course covers:

• Different theories of mental representations
• Internal and external theories of awareness content
• Questions regarding first person authority
• Eliminativism within the philosophy of mind
• Questions around the interplay between the different levels in a cognitive architecture.

Teaching and working methods

Lectures and seminars. The students should also study independently.

Examination

The course is examined through oral assignments, which are presented in seminars, written assignments and a written examination. The seminars are compulsory and constitute part of the examination. Active participation in the seminars is required. Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department