Phi of PSY 3035 Syllabus (2nd V) PDF

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Syllabus for course work for year 2021....

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PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHOLOGY PHI/PSY 3035—FMWA SPRING 2021 MON & WED 4:10 PM—5:25 PM

3 UNITS ON ZOOM

INSTRUCTOR: David Neely EMAIL: [email protected] or [email protected] OFFICE LOCATION: Zoom OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment INTRODUCTION: We all have minds and think—or at least, we think we have minds and we think that we think. But what does that mean? And how does it work? These are the questions we will be looking at in this course. The goal is to provide you with an overview of the theoretical and empirical approaches that constitute the field of cognitive science. In general, cognitive scientists explore the nature of mental processes (e.g., perception, reasoning, memory, attention, etc.) and mental states (motivational states such as desires, cognitive states such as beliefs, emotional states such as being happy, phenomenal states such as being in pain, etc). This semester, we will be paying special attention to topics at the intersection of philosophy and psychology. In short, our goal is to better understand how the mind works. By the end of the course, you should have gained important new insights into what you are and how you work.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will… • describe and evaluate, orally and in writing, philosophical positions and arguments concerning such topics as the Representational Theory of Mind, Cognitive Modularity, and Conceptual Structure. • express and develop, orally and in writing, philosophical positions and arguments. • exhibit dialectical complexity in their reasoning in support of or in countering philosophical positions or arguments, both orally and in writing. • identify, attribute, understand, and express, orally and in writing, salient arguments of key philosophers (such as Zimbardo, Fodor, and Churchland). • Reflect critically and empathetically on matters such as their own and others’ personal, racial, gender, ethnic, and cultural identity. • Reflect critically and empathetically on matters such as their own and others’ moral, political, and epistemic agency.

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CLASS ZOOM: The zoom link will be the same for every class. Here are the details: Meeting ID: 892 2290 5351 Passcode: phipsy Invite: https://baruch.zoom.us/j/89222905351 This will also be posted on Blackboard

LOGISTICS: The course will be divided into two halves. The first half (before spring break) will focus on foundational issues in cognitive science. The second half (after spring break) will look at more applied issues such as the implications that psychological theories have for the nature of evil. During the first half of the course, we will generally meet twice per week. During the second half of the course, we will only meet once per week. In lieu of the second meeting I will provide a pre-recorded lecture video. You are expected to watch these videos in your own time. Attendance: • Policy dictates that students cannot be penalized for failing to attend synchronized Zoom sessions. • However, you will DEFINITELY learn more if you attend and are able to ask questions. Also, it will hurt my feelings if no one ever shows up. L Recordings and Cameras: • Because of the logistical difficulties of remote learning class, Zoom sessions will be VIDEO RECORDED and posted to YouTube. (I will provide a link on the Blackboard) • If you do NOT want to be recorded, you are welcome to mute your microphone and turn off your camera.

GRADING AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your final grade will be calculated as follows: o Paper 1: 35% o Paper 2: 40% o Participation: 25% About Papers • Each paper should respond to one of the prompts I provide. • Papers should be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, and be a PDF or .docx file • Make sure to name your file as follows: Surname—paper #. So, mine would be Neely—paper #. This point is important because I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE renaming documents. • The paper should be turned in on Blackboard by the end of the day it’s due. • Every day a paper is late, it will lose 1/3 of a grade—i.e. an A- is the highest grade a paper can get if it is one day late, B+ if it is 2 days late, etc. [Unless you have made a prior arrangement for an extension.]

3 About Participation • A percentage of the grade will be based on participation—so make sure to actively participate in class. • Participation does not require you to turn on your camera. Active participation is any of the following: o Having your camera on and paying attention. (It’s easy to tell when you’re paying attention and when you’re doing your online shopping) o Using your microphone to ask questions during class. o Asking questions and making comments in the zoom chat during class. o Spamming the little zoom emojis as I lecture. o Emailing me questions or comments outside of class time. o Meeting with me during office hours to discuss any issues you have. Additional Notes • To pass the class you MUST turn in both papers. • If something comes up and you need an extension on an assignment let me know and we will find an extension that fits your situation.

REQUIRED TEXTS: You will NOT need to purchase any texts for this class. All required readings will be provided on Blackboard and by email. The readings listed on the schedule will be discussed during THAT CLASS. Therefore, it’s best to read them before class begins.

SCHEDULE AND READINGS: NOTES: This schedule is subject to change. If it changes, I will provide an updated schedule. “End of Day” means 11:59 PM WEEK 1: FEB 1ST (MONDAY):

FEB 3RD (WEDNESDAY):

CLASS—COURSE OVERVIEW • No Reading CLASS—WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY!? • No Reading—Instead provide me with your email on the class discussion board.

4 WEEK 2: FEB 8TH (MONDAY):

FEB 10RD (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 3: ***FEB 15TH (MONDAY): FEB 17TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 4: FEB 22ND (MONDAY):

FEB 24TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 5: MAR 1ST (MONDAY):

MAR 3RD (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 6: MAR 8TH (MONDAY):

MAR 10TH (WEDNESDAY):

CLASS—DENYING THE MIND? ELIMINATIVE MATERIALISM • Churchland—“Eliminative Materialism and the Propositional Attitudes” o Just Read: § Introduction (i.e. before section I) § Section II § Section IV up to page 82. CLASS—WHY WE NEED THE MIND: • Block and Fodor—“What Psychological States are Not” o JUST READ SECTION 1.

NO CLASS—PRESIDENT’S DAY CLASS—THE REPRESENTATIONAL THEORY OF MIND • Fodor— “The Persistence of the Attitudes” o Pages 1-16 CLASS—REPRESENTATIONAL THEORY OF MIND (PART 2) • Fodor— “The Persistence of the Attitudes” o Pages 16-26 CLASS—RTM INTO CONCEPTS (PART 3) • Margolis— “A REASSESSMENT OF THE SHIFT…” o JUST read section 2.

PAPER 1 PROMPTS POSTED!!! CLASS—CLASSICAL THEORY OF CONCEPTS • Laurence & Margolis—“Concepts and Cognitive Science” o Pages 1-27 (but not the parts that are X’ed out) CLASS—CLASSICAL THEORY OF CONCEPTS CONT. • No New Readings CLASS—THEORY THEORY OF CONCEPTS (PART 3) • Laurence & Margolis—“Concepts and Cognitive Science” o Pages 27-43 (but not the parts that are X’ed out) CLASS—FINISHING UP PROTOTYPES • No New Readings

5 WEEK 7: MAR 15TH (MONDAY):

MAR 17TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 8: MAR 22ND (MONDAY):

CLASS—WRITING PAPERS • Pryor—“Guidelines to Writing a Philosophy Paper” CLASS—MODULARITY OF MIND • Fodor—Modularity of Mind Chapter 2 CLASS—MODULARITY OF MIND (PART 2) • Fodor—Modularity of Mind Chapter 3

MAR 24TH (WEDNESDAY):

CLASS—FINISHING MODULARITY • No New Readings

MAR 26TH (FRIDAY):

PAPER 1 DUE!!!!

WEEK 9: ***MAR 29TH (MONDAY): WEEK 10: APR 5TH (MONDAY):

***APR 7TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 11: APR 12TH (MONDAY):

***APR 14TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 12: APR 19TH (MONDAY):

***APR 21TH (WEDNESDAY):

NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK CLASS—WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS? • Bolton— “What is Mental Illness” BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON MENTAL ILLNESS • Rosenhan— “On Being Sane in Insane Places” CLASS—THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EVIL • Zimbardo— “Situationist Perspective on the Psychology of Evil” BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON EVIL • No New Readings CLASS—ANIMALS ARE SMART! • Pepperberg et al— “Logical Reasoning in a Grey Parrot?” • Perry & Loukola— “We Taught Bees to Play Football…” BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON ANIMALS • No New Readings

6 WEEK 13: APR 26TH (MONDAY):

***APR 28TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 14: MAY 3RD (MONDAY):

***MAY 5TH (WEDNESDAY):

WEEK 15: MAY 10TH (MONDAY):

CLASS—THE EVOLUTIONARY BASIS OF ANXIETY & ADDITION IN THE MODERN WORLD • Dayton—“How Modern Lifestyles Activate Ancient Stress Responses” • Alexander—“The Roots of Addiction in Free Market Society” BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON EVOLUTION & ANXIETY • No New Readings PAPER 2 PROMPTS POSTED!!! CLASS —ALTRUISM • TBD BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON HAPPINESS • No New Readings

CLASS —HAPPINESS • Dunn, Gilbert, & Wilson—“If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren’t Spending it Right”

***MAY 12TH (WEDNESDAY): BONUS VIDEO (I.E. NO CLASS)—MORE ON HAPPINESS • No New Readings WEEK 16: MAY 17TH (MONDAY):

CLASS—FINAL REMARKS • No New Readings PAPER 2 DUE!!! • Submit on Blackboard by End of Day

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POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. The following definitions are based on the College's Academic Honesty website at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html : Cheating is the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Examples include but are not limited to: • • • • • • • • • •

Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work Unauthorized collaborating on a take home assignment or examination Using unauthorized notes during a closed book examination Using unauthorized electronic devices during an examination Taking an examination for another student Asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you Changing a corrected exam and returning it for more credit Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to two classes without consulting the second instructor Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination Allowing others to research and write assigned papers including the use of commercial term paper services

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's ideas, research or writing as your own, such as: • Copying another person's actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes (a functional limit is four or more words taken from the work of another) • Presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging them • Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source • Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignment My policy is to give a failing grade to any assignment that has been plagiarized or an exam in which you have cheated. In addition, I am required by College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of the Dean of Students. This report becomes part of your permanent file.

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES: The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD: VC 2-272, Vertical Campus) can provide “reasonable accommodations” for students who register for services. The OSSD provides an “Accommodation Letter” that informs your instructors what services you need, while maintaining confidentiality about the basis for accommodation. For information on the OSSD, see baruch.cuny.edu/studentaffairs/ossd/disabilityServices.htm

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THE NY STATE EDUCATION LAW PROVIDES THAT: 1. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of their religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. 2. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirements which they may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. 3. Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of their rights....