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Consciousness

Vak
2010-2011

Description

Consciousness is one of the most colourful concepts in science. Even though it is still difficult to say what consciousness actually is (the philosophical question), there is quite some progress regarding the issue of how consciousness works (the psychological question). This course will discuss theories and findings on the function and malfunction of consciousness and address issues such as whether free will is an illusion, whether animals and robots are conscious, how conscious processes are neurally generated, and how drugs, dreams, and meditation affect conscious experience

Course objectives

The student has gained a broad overview of classical and modern theories on consciousness, and a deeper insight into how theoretical concepts and hypotheses in this area can be applied to empirical phenomena and practical problems.

Timetable

Consciousness (2010-2011):

Mode of instruction

The course consists of 8 lectures and a final exam.

Assessment method

Final exam: 40 multiple choice questions in English. Dictionaries are permitted

From January 1, 2006 the Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted the Ephorus system to be used by instructors for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. Please see the information concerning fraud .

Blackboard

Information on blackboard.leidenuniv.nl

Reading list

Blackmore, S. (2010). Consciousness: An introduction. Hodder & Stoughton.

Registration

Students have to enrol for study activities of the course via uSis in January 2011.

NB: Exam registration will take place via uSis, and will be open between a month and a week before the (re)exam. Students who haven’t registered, cannot participate in the exam.

Contact information

Prof. Dr. B. Hommel
Room 2B05
E-mail: mstel@fsw.leidenuniv.nl