CODE 90691 ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026 CREDITS 6 cfu anno 1 METODOLOGIE FILOSOFICHE 11868 (LM-78 R) - GENOVA 6 cfu anno 2 DIGITAL HUMANITIES - INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL MEDIA 11661 (LM-92) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR M-FIL/05 LANGUAGE Italian TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 1° Semester OVERVIEW The course offers an overview of the intersections between cognitive science and theories of the arts. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Cognitive science has deeply redefined paradigms and models of mental processes of perceptual and cognitive processes. The traditional philosophical problems concerning the relationships between bodily and mental experiences, the mutual interaction of intelligence and emotions, the mobile and often contradictory status of artistic products, their meaning and their use have acquired radically new dimensions. The dialogue between aesthetics, neuroscience and philosophy of mind enhables mutual fertilization between technological innovation and its possible applications to the arts, entertainment and rehabilitation. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES Identifying the main trends in the field of cognitive sciences. Relating them to theories of art and artistic practices. Acquire a greater ability to manage one's social interactions with a collaborative attitude, constructive communication, and dialogic skills. Demonstrate autonomy in work, the ability to handle primary literature, argumentative skills, and collaborative attitude in coordination and negotiation. PREREQUISITES none TEACHING METHODS Alternation between themes of cognitive science and their applications to the artistic field The course will combine lectures delivered by the instructor with classroom presentations given by attending students. SYLLABUS/CONTENT 1. The emergence of classical cognitive science From behaviorism to cognitive Science Functionalism Propositional attitudes and common-sense psychology Functionalism and qualia Case study: fiction and imagination 2. Linguistic format and mental images Syntax vs. semantics Compositionality of meaning Fodor and mental compositionality Linguistic and iconic representations The debate on mental imagery Case study: the appreciation of poetry 3. Language and communication Pragmatics Grice: speaker intentions, maxims, implicatures Case study: The interpretation of literary texts 4. Visual perception Visual perception 1: Marr Visual perception 2: Gibson Dorsal and ventral systems Case study: pictorial perception 5. Connectionism AI models are not necessarily models of cognition Case study: A.I. Art 6. Robotics and 4E cognition New robotics Braitenberg 4E cognition Case study: Interactive arts 7. Cognitive science and neuroscience Neuroscience as a new horizon of cognitive science Case study: empirical aesthetics 8. Modularity and evolutionism “Fodorian” vs. “Massive” modularism Modularism and evolutionary psychology Problems with adaptive explanations Case study: evolutionary aesthetics 9. Emotions Innate emotions Cognitivism and non-cognitivism Case study: the design of emotions RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY Teaching materials that will be made available on Aulaweb TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD MARCELLO FRIXIONE Ricevimento: Please write to the Professor to set an appointment ENRICO TERRONE Ricevimento: Please write to the Professor to set an appointment LESSONS Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION Oral examination ASSESSMENT METHODS Classroom presentation and oral examination. FURTHER INFORMATION Students with disabilities or learning disorders are allowed to use specific modalities and supports that will be determined on a case-by-case basis in agreement with the Delegate of the Engineering courses in the Committee for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities. Students are invited to contact the teacher of this course and copy the Delegate (https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.html).
