Professor Verena Gottschling
vgott@yorku.ca
Office Location:  S444 Ross Building
Phone Number:  (416) 736-2100 Ext. 44722
Virtual office hours: Thursdays 2:30 – 3:00 (online)

The course an in-person course. All course required information, activities, and assignments can be found on Moodle/eclass. (https://eclass.yorku.ca)

This Seminar will look into the relationship between the Sciences of the Mind/Cognitive Science and Art perception. In particular, we will discuss different views about how Neuro-Aesthetics fits into the other disciplines.

We will cover different theories of the relationship between artist, piece of artwork and audience, as well as view about the role of imagery/imagination in Art. We will cover different artforms, from pictures over dance to architecture, and different issues including the paradox of fiction, the role of emotions in art perception. 

Technical requirements for taking the course: In order to fully participate in this course, students will be required to take part in video conferencing and will also appear on video (e.g., for tutorial/seminar discussion, group work, assignment submission, etc). In addition to stable, higher-speed internet connection, students will need access to a computer with webcam and microphone. Some class activities can be done with a smart device (iPhone is fine) with these features. However, it is not recommended for most of them, since there is an impressive amount of research showing that using small screens gets in the way of student’s learning success. (see the advice on learning strategies at the end of this syllabus)

 [List what students will need in order to fully participate in your course. If you are expecting that students participate in your course 1) through video conferencing and 2) that they also appear on video (e.g., for tutorial/seminar discussion, remote proctoring, oral exams, etc.), please let them know upfront. In addition to stable, higher-speed Internet connection, these students will need a computer with webcam and microphone, and/or a smart device with these features.]

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

All texts are available at the library, internet or on the class-page.

Homework for each class/topic                                                   10%

MET1 (Module End Test 1)                                                    10%

MET 2 (Module End Test 2)                                                    10%

One short prerecorded reflective presentations with handout     20%

Final oral Exam (30 min)                                                         20%

Feedback/discussion of two short presentations                  20%, each 10%

Participation (forum and in class), preparation of discussion questions        10%

Seminar The course in a in-person course, i.e. it has both in-person components, and some online components, the online components include asynchronous, as well as synchronous activities. The in-person components and online synchronous activities are required elements of the course as well. All in-person activities are always scheduled Wednesday 2:30-5:30. You cannot pass this course without in-person presence in the classes, i.e. you cannot take this course as a fully online course (no exceptions).

The course is organized in topics/weeks, and modules. The new weekly module for the week opens at the beginning of the week (Saturday morning).

On Monday we do have class discussion and group discussions of the material for the week.

You can (and should) do the reading activities earlier than the module opens.

After completing this course, students should be able to:

Understand in some depth the main topics regarding certain higher cognitive functions in contemporary analytic philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science, and different views regarding it.

1. Evaluate others’ conceptual and empirical arguments and to create their own.
2. Develop the ability to write analyses of arguments
3. Know about several contemporary figures in the debate

Course policies

The main in-person activity is scheduled Monday 2:30-5.30 pm. After a short introduction and the presentation, we will address open questions, several forum contributions, questions and issues from the forum, and we discuss the questions students prepared for the topic the week covers.

An essential part of the course is to engage and interact with others in argumentation (orally and in writing). Our discussion meetings with the class are not recorded, attendance is mandatory.

A make-up of an assignment will only be given to students with a genuine medical or other emergency that prevents them from taking the assignment, but only if I am notified beforehand by email and if this is backed up by official documentation (e.g. a doctor’s report).

There is no make-up for missing forum contributions or missing homework, quizzes, MET’s or missed pre-recorded presentations.

Also: You must complete all requirements in order to pass the course.