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

Exam Board

ENRICO TERRONE (President)

ANTONIO CAMURRI

MARCELLO FRIXIONE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: 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).