Colorado State University: PHILOSOPHY 415
The Dynamics of Pain and Self: A Philosophical Introduction to Cognitive Science
Where: Clark C 364
When: MWF 12 p.m.
Instructor: Darko Sarenac
Office: Eddy 235
Phone: (970) 491-5441
Hours: Mon/Wed 1 - 2 p.m. and by appointment
Web: phil415.pbwiki.com
Email: Darko.Sarenac at colostate.edu
Coinstructor: Jordan Kiper
Office: Eddy 229
Phone: (970) 491-2107
Hours: Friday 3:00-6:00pm
Email: jordankiper@yahoo.com
Text: 1. Mindware, Andy Clark. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-19-513857
2. PAIN: New Essays on Its Nature and the Methodology of Its Study, Murat Aydede, editor. Cambridge, Massachusetts: the MIT Press, 2006. ISBN 0-262-01221-9
3. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Philip K. Dick. New York: Vintage Books, 1965. ISBN 0-679-73666-2
4. An online course reader. The reader will consist of a series of papers on our (three) main topics of exploration: cognitive science and the dynamics of pain and self.
Movies: Turing, Ghost in the Shell, Matrix, Bladerunner, Nice guys finish first, etc. suggestions
Final Paper Due: December 10, 2007, 11 p.m.
Sign up to discuss your paper proposal
Course Description: We will explore the boundary between humans and a particular kind of machine, a computer, in a rigorous philosophical manner. Through our main text and supplements, but also through a series of movies and pop culture artifacts, we will tackle some of the following questions: are we simply computational machines? are there capacities that we have that escape a computational description? if the latter, which of our interesting capacities can be captured by a computer and are there in principle obstacles for capturing others? How intimate can we be with a nonbiological entities? Ethical consequences for machines and us, etc. The class will be run somewhat democratically. Youy can post suggestions for further topics, readings.
Course Requirements: Bi-weekly mini reflection/issue essays (400 words max) (30%), a final paper (2500-3000 words) (50%), and participation in discussions and web forum (20%).
It is your responsibility to:
- properly enroll in the class
- be clear on any announcements I make in class regarding–but not limited to–such things as exact exam dates, changes in the class outline, scheduling changes, etc.
- get all notes and handouts if you miss a class
- makeup any missed exams; unless made up, a missed exam scores a zero.
Assignments
Schedule of Lectures
Class Forum
Lead discussion, present
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