Philosophy of Psychology (327-0-21)
Instructors
Morgan Thompson
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-435: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
What is the nature of implicit bias and does the Implicit Association Test have sufficient validity? Are psychiatric kinds best investigated through the methods of psychology or neuroscience? Are other species conscious and how would we know? What can computational and machine learning models tell us about the human mind/brain? Psychologists appeal to tools of scientific reasoning, such as validation, operational definitions, and replication to evaluate when methods provide evidence about the objects of inquiry and support stable knowledge claims.
We will analyze these tools as well as typical methods employed in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. These methods include: comparative animal studies, computational modeling, controlled lab experiments, and replication. Using this analysis as background, we will evaluate particular cases of scientific reasoning about animal cognition, consciousness, implicit bias, and psychiatric kinds. At the end of this course, we will evaluate the role of replication and integration of results in producing knowledge about the mind/brain.
Learning Objectives
• Develop capacity for critical evaluation of methods for investigating the mind/brain including their strengths and limitations.
• Recognize, understand, and evaluate the evidential support and structure of inferences (inference to the best explanation, inferences concerning animal models, inferences from computational models) frequently made in psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• Apply theoretical concepts (constructs, validity, integration, replicability) and evidential reasoning to specific cases of psychological and cognitive neuroscientific research on prejudice, consciousness, animal cognition, and psychiatric kinds.
• Creatively apply theoretical concepts and evidential reasoning to novel cases.
• Clearly and persuasively communicate both empirical and logical arguments through writing and presentation. • Provide reasons for one's interpretations or positions and to anticipate objections.
Class Materials (Required)
All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for Philosophy PhD Graduate Students