COGSCI 600
Seminar in Cognitive Science
Fall, 2002
Description: Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence. This seminar will discuss controversial topics concerning the nature of human and computer intelligence.
Organizer: Paul Thagard
Office hours (HH368): Monday 1-2; Thursday 12-12:50.
Email: pthagard@uwaterloo.ca. Phone: extension 3594.
Web page: http://cogsci.uwaterloo.ca/courses/cogsci600.html
Time: Wednesday, 2-4, in PAS 3026.
Textbook: A course pack with readings for each week will be available in the bookstore. Students should come to class prepared to discuss the reading. Go to list of readings.
Assignments: Each student will write a research essay of approximately 20 pages. Essay proposals should be handed in to Paul Thagard by Oct. 30, and students will present their work in class Nov. 27. The final essay is due Dec. 4. In addition, 10% of the grade will be based on 1-page essays to be handed in each week concerning the week's readings.
Go to list of discussion questions.
Go to list of previous essay topics.
Schedule:
| Week | Dates | Instructor |
Topic |
| 1 | Sept. 11 |
|
What is cognitive science? |
| 2 | Sept. 18 | Chris Eliasmith, Philosophy | Can computational models help bridge the gap between single neurons and psychological states? |
| 3 | Sept. 25 | Tim Kenyon, Philosophy | Do we understand speakers by decoding their utterances? |
| 4 | Oct. 2 | Don Grierson, Civil Engineering | Can evolutionary search be
used to improve the safety of buildings against terrorist attack? |
| 5 | Oct. 9 |
|
|
| 6 | Oct. 16 | Randy Harris, English | What's cognitive about rhetoric? |
| 7 | Oct. 23 | Mike Ross, Psychology | How is autobiographical memory related to self-identity? |
| 8 | Oct. 30 | Chrysanne diMarco, Computer Science | How will Web language reshape natural language? |
| 9 | Nov. 6 | Steven Saltieri, Accounting Powerpoint presentation (click and hold to download) | Would ENRON have happened if
auditors had followed prescriptions of research on accounting expertise? |
| 10 | Nov. 13 | Daniela O'Neill, Psychology | When does a mental model approach to narrative emerge in children? |
| 11 | Nov. 20 | Pat Wainwright, Health Studies | Is an understanding of brain development necessary to the understanding of cognition? |
| 12 | Nov. 27 | Student presentations |
Various |
Note: this course is also being offered as Phil 479/673. Advanced undergraduates may take it as Phil 479, with permission of the instructor. Philosophy graduate students may take it as Phil 673. Students and faculty are also welcome to audit the course. Students who want audit credit must complete the weekly 1-page essays.
This page updated Nov. 11, 2002.