Philosophy of Science

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 321

Pivotal concepts common to empirical sciences are examined and clarified. These include: explanation, confirmation, prediction, systematization, empirical significance, and the relationship of all these concepts to the structure of scientific theory. Examples may be drawn from both contemporary and historical science, including the social, biological, and physical sciences. Students with a background in science are particularly encouraged to consider this course. Priority given to majors in Philosophy & PNP.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Mind and Morals

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 316

This course explores a number of issues at the intersection of ethics and cognitive science. Possible topics include: Are we rational? Do we know our own thoughts and motivations? Can one believe that one ought to do something without being motivated to do it? Do emotions impair or enhance our ability to reason? How do moral beliefs develop through childhood? Are traits such as intelligence and character unchangeable, and what implications follow if they are (or are not)? Does retaining my identity over time require having the same mind, and, if so, am I the same person now as I was as a child? Are non-human animals worthy of moral consideration? If brain activity is determined by causal laws, can we have free will? Prerequisites: one course in Philosophy at the 100 or 200-level, or permission of the instructor. Priority given to majors in Philosophy & PNP.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Eth; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Introduction to Social Psychology

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 3151

An introduction to the scientific study of social influence. Topics include person perception, social cognition, attitudes, conformity, group behavior, aggression, altruism, prejudice and psychology's interface with law, health, and climate change. PREREQ: Psych 100B/1000
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC; AR SEP

Philosophy of Mind

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 315

What is a mind and how does it work? This course confronts the nature of the mind from philosophical and psychological perspectives. We will first consider the ontology of the mental, confronting questions such as: What is the relationship between the mind and the brain? What is consciousness, and how does it fit into nature? How do our thoughts represent the external world? We will then move onto considering how minds work. How much of our knowledge is innate, and how much do we learn from experience? Does our language constrain our thoughts? Can non-linguistic animals think? How do the different sensory modalities interact with each other? Readings will include some historical texts, but largely contemporary work. Prereqs: one course in Philosophy at the 100 or 200-level, or permission of the instructor. Priority given to majors and minors in Philosophy & PNP.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Phonological Analysis

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 313

There are several important abilities involved in the use of human language, one of these being the ability to organize speech sounds. The system that the brain uses to accomplish this task is the subject matter of phonology. This course will explore phonology from several perspectives within generative linguistics, including both traditional rule-based and current Optimality Theoretic approaches. Topics to be discussed include phonological features, lexical phonology, prosodic morphology, tone, and metrical stress. Assignments will help students learn to analyze phonological problems in a variety of languages and to evaluate the consequences of using different analytic approaches. Prerequisite: Ling 312 or permission of instructor.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

Syntactic Analysis

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 309

The ability to produce and understand an infinite number of sentences is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the human language faculty. Syntax is the study of how the brain organizes sentences from smaller phrases and words. This course explores syntactic analysis from several perspectives within generative linguistics, focusing primarily on the Government and Binding framework but also introducing Minimalist and Principles and Parameters frameworks. Topics to be discussed include phrase structure, transformations, case theory, thematic roles, and anaphora. Assignments will help students learn to construct and compare analyses of syntactic problems in English and other languages. Prerequisite: Ling 170D.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU Hum; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC

Philosophy of Language

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 306

A survey of major philosophical problems concerning meaning, reference, and truth as they have been addressed within the analytic tradition. Readings that represent diverse positions on these focal issues will be selected from the work of leading philosophers in the field, for example: Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Davidson, Quine, Kripke, and Putnam. Students are encouraged to engage critically the ideas and arguments presented, and to develop and defend their own views on the core topics. Prerequisites: one course in Philosophy at the 100 or 200-level, or permission of the instructor. Priority given to majors in Philosophy & PNP.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Inquiry in the Cognitive Sciences

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 201

What is cognitive science, and how does it happen? This course will investigate the methods used to probe human and non-human animal minds across the cognitive sciences. We will take a close look at specific experimental methods, such as looking times, fMRI, 4-cup tasks, and the Implicit Association Test. These methods are used to inquire into the nature of the mind, including how children develop capacities for social cognition and logical inference, how cognition influences perception, how we categorize other people and attribute mental states, how we process language, and other fascinating topics. Over the course of the term we will try to keep larger theoretical questions in mind and consider how we might use different tools to converge on cognitive phenomena. Prerequisites: completion of at least one of the following courses: Psych 100B, Phil 120F, Phil 125C, Biol 296A, MBB 120 or Ling 170D
Course Attributes: FA NSM; AR NSM; AS NSM; AS AN; BU SCI

Introduction Cognitive Science

PHILOSOPHY-NEUROSCIENCE-PSYCHOLOGY 200

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind, drawing upon and integrating findings from psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy, among other disciplines. This course begins with a historical overview of some of the principal landmarks in the history of cognitive science. It then uses detailed case studies to introduce the basic techniques and theoretical frameworks used by cognitive scientists. Prereq: completion of at least one of the following courses: MBB 120A, Psych 100B, Phil 100, Phil 120F, Phil 125C, Biol 2960, or Ling 170D.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; FA SSC; AR SSC