Lässt sich der Geist mitsamt Verstand, Gefühlen und Sinneseindrücken auf physische Gehirnaktivität reduzieren? Oder ist der Geist mehr als das Feuern von Neuronen?
Dieses Seminar bietet eine Einführung zu lang diskutierte sowie gegenwärtige Probleme und Positionen der Philosophie des Geistes. Wir befassen uns mit dem oben skizzierten Leib-Seele Problem, streifen die Themen von Bewusstsein sowie freiem Willen, und enden mit der Frage von persönlicher Identität.
Das Lernziel des Kurses ist es, die unterschiedlichen Probleme sowie Positionen kennenzulernen und sich mit einer Position im Rahmen einer Kursarbeit vertieft zu beschäftigen.
Vorkenntnis wird nicht vorausgesetzt.
- Enseignant: Louis Longin
This seminar explores the intricate nature of mental representations,
delving into key philosophical debates and contemporary theories. We
begin by examining the mechanisms underlying mental representations,
addressing issues of intentionality and content. The Language of Thought
Hypothesis is scrutinized as we explore whether mental processes rely
on a symbolic language. We then navigate the question of whether
machines can truly think, considering computational models and their
limitations.
The course transitions to explore connectionist,
dynamic, and Bayesian models of thought, evaluating their implications
for understanding cognitive processes. Finally, we investigate reductive
and non-reductive approaches to explaining mental representations,
considering the challenges of reducing mental phenomena to neural or
computational mechanisms. Throughout, students engage in critical
discussions, analysing foundational texts and recent literature,
fostering a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding mental
representations in contemporary philosophy of mind.
- Enseignant: Louis Longin
As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, understanding the social dimensions of knowledge becomes essential. This reading course immerses students in the rich interdisciplinary field of social epistemology. The central theme of this course is examining how social epistemology intersects with the practical aspects of coexisting in a shared social space, individuals and communities. Drawing on insights from philosophy of mind, sociology, and cognitive science, students will critically examine how knowledge is shaped, validated, and distributed within social groups, exploring key concepts such as collective belief and testimony. We will explore the role of shared knowledge in fostering cooperation and oppression, resolving conflicts, building trust or suspicion within diverse communities, addressing ethical considerations, and emphasizing the responsibilities of creating and disseminating knowledge in collective contemporary contexts.
- Enseignant: Jimena Zapata Gotelli
In this course, we will study how language functions as a dynamic tool in constructing social, moral and political reality. Through an interdisciplinary approach drawing on philosophy of language, mind and moral psychology, we will explore how language influences stereotypes based on individual and social identity markers such as gender, ethnicity or disability. But also how, through our words, we can support, question or change social and political structures and social dynamics of inclusion and exclusion. We will also investigate how the democratic principle of freedom of expression copes with hate speech and offensive speech, linguistic discrimination, and oppressive discourses. Finally, we will explore how language is employed in public discourse, media communication, and digital platforms to shape social and political narratives, social movements, political activism and the formation of collective identities.
In sum, students will gain an understanding of the social and political dynamics of language use, empowering them to navigate and critically assess the role of language in shaping diverse and dynamic societies.
- Enseignant: Jimena Zapata Gotelli
In this course we will look at a selection of some well-known as well as some fairly new topics at the intersection of philosophy, game theory, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Is technology merely a tool we use or does it shape our lives in more profound ways? ▪ Can persons exist as digital entities? ▪ Will people cooperate with or exploit artificial agents? ▪ Can recommendation engines lie? ▪ How can the use of drones in warfare affect how wars are waged? ▪ Should we develop sex robots? ▪ How to reconcile privacy, liberty, and the benefits of facial recognition technology?
These are the type of the questions that we'll look at in this course. An interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, psychology, game theory, and computer science, with a good dash of science fiction, to study these questions is gaining popularity. This course will invite students to explore how these disciplines mingle in tackling the above questions and why tackling them is important in the first place. We will cover topics ranging from some of the well-known philosophical and ethical concerns regarding our use and reliance on technology to very recent developments at the intersection of behavioural game theory and human-AI interaction.
- Enseignant: Jurgis Karpus
- Enseignant: Nadine Meertens
- Enseignant: Antonio Scarafone
- Enseignant: Antonio Scarafone
Is there a formal way to study our decisions and tell if and when our choices are rational? ▪ What does game theory have to say about how we interact with others and what can we learn about our behaviour from game theory experiments? ▪ How do social norms shape our behaviour and what insights can we draw from models of biological and cultural evolution? ▪ Should governments use experimental psychology research to “nudge" people into eating healthy, saving for retirement, donating organs, and other forms of seemingly desirable behaviour? ▪ Why do we sometimes lack self-control and what do we do about it?
These are some questions that we'll look at in this course. An interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, economics, psychology, and computer science in the study of these questions is presently gaining popularity. This course will introduce students to decision-theoretic and game-theoretic study of rational choice and social interaction. We will cover topics ranging from well known philosophical riddles concerning the foundations of rational choice theory to very recent developments in behavioural game theory concerning modes of reasoning that people use in interactive decision-making.
The course is aimed at upper level undergraduate and postgraduate students in philosophy, economics, and other areas of research that have an interest in formal analysis of human decision making. The course doesn't require prior knowledge of decision theory, game theory, or economics, and all key concepts will be introduced and explained in course meetings. Basic knowledge of introductory material in these fields will help as well as a general aptitude for working with numbers and probabilities (basic math).
- Enseignant: Jurgis Karpus