Syllabus FLO'j Cognition and Computation FL2009 L64 PNP 4332 Sec 01 Frederick Eberhardt ([email protected]); Wilson 107; Office Hours (T&W 6-7pm) Course Description: This course introduces students to some of the key frameworks for thinking about the mind in computational terms. We will be looking at some basic topics in the theory of computation, in addition to considering philosophical issues raised by computational models of cognitive processes. This course is required for graduate students in the PNP Ph.D. program. Prerequisites: At least two 400-level PNP courses crosslisted in Philosophy. Text Book (optional, but recommended): Cummins & Cummins (2000), Minds, Brains, and Computers: A Historical Introduction to the Foundations of Cognitive Science, Wiley-Blackwell Sipser (2005), Introduction to the theory of computation Assignments: There are 3 assignments: a draft, a paper and a presentation. In assignment 1 and 2 your task is to write a philosophical paper on a topic relevant to the course. We will proceed in two stages. For assignment 1 you are asked to produce an outline of the structure of the argument in your paper. In assignment 2 you are asked to write the full paper given the feedback you received on assignment 1. Assignment 3 is a 30 minute in class presentation on a topic relevant to the course, but different from your paper. See the assignment section on Telesis for details. All three assignments have the same weight for your final grade. Grading Participation: 15% Assignments 1 (argument outline): 30% Assignments 2 (complete paper): 30% Assignment 3 (presentation): 30% There are no exams. The expectation concerning the quality of work is higher for grad students than for undergrads. Academic Integrity Cases of plagiarism will be reported to the academic integrity officer of Arts & Sciences with a recommendation to fail the student for the course. Please see the Telesis website for more details and please refer to Washington University's policy on academic integrity.