Syllabus - Minds & Machines

Section 02 (Prof. van Heuveln, CRN 69306): MR 2:00-3:20pm, Sage 3101

Section 03 (Prof. Milanese, CRN 69307): MR 4:00-5:20pm, Sage 3101

What are minds? Are minds physical or non-physical? Does consciousness have a physical basis? If minds are purely physical, do we have free will? If we don't have free will, do we have moral responsibilities or rights? Who or what are we anyway? How is our personal identity defined? What is the boundary between us and our environment? How close are we to building a computer with capabilities similar to those of Commander Data as depicted in Star Trek NG? Should it share the same basic rights and responsibilities as those possessed by humans? Moreover, if we can "build a person" or, perhaps, "build better persons" (cyborgs, genetic engineering, nanotechnology), is this something we should do? Or, should we prohibit such attempts? How about non-human-animals? To what extent are they conscious and aware, and to what extent does that give them rights?

If you are interested in exploring some of these conceptual and ethical questions regarding the nature of mind and the prospect of Artificial Intelligence, this course will get you jump-started. Students meet twice a week in small sections to have class discussions and debates about these issues. On Monday evenings , all sections come together to listen to a guest speaker talk about their research on the frontiers of artificial intelligence and cognitive science, or to watch a movie that is particularly relevant to the topic at hand. During the course, students will learn how make a philosophical argument, and how to express them in writing or through an oral presentation. Final projects are hands-on: build an "intelligent" Lego Robot , write an AI program , or actively participate in a cognitive psychology experiment.

Requirements

This course is a freshmen-only, Communication Intensive course, and is taught every Fall semester. The course is a survey course on classical and contemporary issues in philosophy of mind, cognition science, and artificial intelligence, and serves as a springboard to other courses in philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Indeed, after taking this course, some students may be interested in declaring any one of several related majors or minors in philosophy, psychological science, or cognitive science, all housed in the Cognitive Science Department .

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Learning Outcomes

Minds & Machines is a HASS Inquiry course, which exposes students to multiple perspectives on contemporary complex, global issues, engages students in the analysis of policies or practices that impact social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes, and ensures students to consider the ethical responsibilies of protecting the public's health, safety, and welfare.

Specific Learning Outcomes for Minds and Machines are:

Examine fundamental issues relating to “minds and machines” and cognitive science in a critical, comprehensive and humane fashion, which includes:
- distinguishing and evaluating arguments and evidence,
- unpacking fundamental assumptions, and
- comparing and contrasting the diversity of views and values that any such fundamental investigation gives rise to
Express the results of intellectual investigations in both written and oral forms of media
Work together with others as both a team member and leader;

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Texts

A. Fahey and van Heuveln, Critical Wisdom Primer

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A. SUBSTANTIAL PAPER -
You will have to write a somewhat lengthy (about 4 pages) yet well-organized paper that tests your understanding of the material read and discussed in class by applying it to a concrete scenario, and that also tests your ability to clearly and effetively communicate these different ideas and arguments

B. SHORT ASSIGNMENTS -
There will be several short assignments interspersed throughout the semester. These assignments may include small homework assignments, quick in-class quizzes, and short (1 page) open response papers.

C. GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATION -
You and your group will give a presentation on one of a variety of topics concerning the nature of intelligence, personhood, and rights.

(iv) Write a philosophical paper (typed, 1500-2500 words) on some aspect of Minds & Machines.

The paper is 30%, the group project 25%, and final project 30% the grade. The short assignments add up- to 15%. At the instructors' discretion, points will be added to the student's final average in recognition of outstanding class participation or other forms of contribution to the class. Finally, attendance is mandatory for all sections, and missing classes will adversely effect your grade (-1% per missed class after 2 missed classes)

Final grades as well as grades on individual assignments will be assigned in accord with the following guidelines:

A- = 90-92%, A =93% and above
Outstanding work. The student has completed all facets of the assignment(s) and has shown a full and subtle understanding of the subject matter that is original and thought provoking. The student’s work exhibits clarity and fluency of expression and contains only very minor errors of grammar or style.

B- = 80-82%, B =83-86%, B+ =87-89%
Highly satisfactory work. The student has completed most all facets of the assignment(s) and has shown a full understanding of the subject matter. The student’s work exhibits clarity of expression and contains only minor errors of grammar or style.

C- = 70-72%, C =73-76%, C+ =77-79%
Minimally satisfactory work. The student has completed the critical facets of the assignment(s) and has shown an adequate understanding of the subject matter. The student’s work exhibits clarity of expression as regards those critical facets but that clarity may be partially diminished by errors of grammar or style.

D = 60-66%, D+ =67-69%
Unsatisfactory work. The student has failed to complete some of the critical facets of the assignment(s) and has shown a less than adequate understanding of the subject matter. The student’s work exhibits clarity of expression as regards only some of those critical facets and that clarity may be largely diminished by errors of grammar or style.

F = 0-59%
Failure. The student has failed to complete many of the critical facets of the assignment(s) and has shown little understanding of the subject matter. The student's work exhibits little clarity of expression as regards those critical facets and that clarity may be largely diminished by errors of grammar or style. Failure, either for the assignment or, at the instructor's discretion, for the course, is also assigned in the case of cheating/plagiarism.

One of the aims of this course is the fostering of the student's ability to think critically, creatively and independently. While everyone is aware that such thinking does not take place in a vacuum, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to ensure that the "ideas" expressed in written work are essentially those of the student, or, if they are the "ideas of others," that their sources are properly cited. Knowing disregard of this principle counts as ACADEMIC DISHONESTY and may result in course failure. The student is encouraged to examine Rensselaer's policies regarding academic integrity in the current editions of the Rensselaer Handbook and the Rensselaer Catalog.

Among the requirements for both the student and the instructors in this course is that we do our best to respect the dignity of ourselves and all persons. Words or deeds directed against a person or group, where it is obvious that the sole intent is to insult or otherwise do them harm in a thoroughly unconstructive manner, will not be tolerated. In a similar vein, we should do our best to sensitize ourselves to the unfair and derogatory racial, religious and sexual connotations of various English expressions and eliminate those expressions from casual use. Having said this, however, it must also be said that it is crucial to Rensselaer's mission that there be placed no undue constraint on the free expression of ideas and opinions. Thus, the mere fact that someone considers an expression or act false or offensive is not by itself sufficient to warrant sanction. Help (online as well as in person) with writing and other forms of expression can be found at the Center for Communication Practices.

Week	Topic
1	Philosophy and Critical Thinking
2	Arguments
3	Logic and Fallacies

7	Animal Minds
8	Machine Minds
9	Group Presentations
10	Group Presentations

11
12
13
14	Thanksgiving Break!
15

4	The Mind-Body Problem
5	Personal Identity
6	Free Will