DO ALL THE READING. And please do the readings prior to the class session for which they are assigned. Required books are available at Huntley Bookstore via this link. Other readings are available on Sakai. Please make sure to have the readings available during class, so that we can reference them.
PARTICIPATION. Despite the difficulties the global pandemic has created, we nonetheless sincerely hope everybody can participate “live,” albeit virtually, in our class discussions. Even in our current virtual environment, we all learn best when we learn together. After reading the required materials before each class, please be prepared to ask intelligent questions about those readings. We will frequently ask you direct questions about the readings. This class is not a spectator sport. Come prepared to play. If this expectation becomes an issue for you during the semester, please be proactive about reaching out to us, so that we can work together on a solution. We are confident we will be able to accommodate you!
READING RESPONSES. There will be four Reading Responses. Three of these reading responses will be on assigned readings; the fourth will be on a project (the Turing Test or Braitenberg’s Vehicles).
- Reading response 1: (choose from one of the following)
- Brian C. Smith (2019), "What’s Still Lacking in Artificial Intelligence?” (due by: Sept. 1 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Ernest Davis & Gary Marcus (2015), "Commonsense reasoning and commonsense knowledge in AI” (due by: Sept. 6 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Josh Tenenbaum talk (2020), "Reverse-engineering core common sense (https://youtu.be/uPOpI7rMRO0) (due by: Sept. 6 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Reading response 2: (choose from one of the following)
- Andy Clark & David Chalmers (1998), "The Extended Mind” (due by: Sept. 20 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Matthew Cobb (2019), "Why your brain is not a computer" (article/excerpt) (due by: Sept. 20 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Daniel Hutto & Erik Myin (2018), "Going Radical” (due by: Sept. 22 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Reading response 3: (choose from one of the following)
- Cangelosi & Schlessinger (2015), read any two of chapters 4, 5, or 6 (due by: Oct. 6 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Linda Smith talk (2020), "Common sense and the visual experiences of toddlers" (https://youtu.be/lM0Gu7dy8Lg) (due by: Oct. 6 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Schneider, Chs. 4 & 5 (due by: Oct. 20 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Schneider, Chs. 6 & 7 (due by: Oct. 25 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Reading response 4: (choose from one of the following)
- Turing Test (due by: Sept. 19 at 5:00 pm PT)
- Braitenberg project (due by: Oct. 3 at 5:00 pm PT)
BOOK PROJECT. For this assignment, a group of students will read one of the books listed below. Each group will present for a day, leading a discussion of the themes and issues of the book. Stay tuned for more details.
- Book list:
- Philosopher/Computer Scientist: Smith, Brian Cantwell. (2019).The Promise of Artificial Intelligence: Reckoning and Judgment. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
- Computer Scientists: Marcus, Gary & Davis, Ernest. (2019). Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust. New York, NY: Pantheon.
- Neuroscientist: Cobb, Matthew. (2020). The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience. New York: NY.
- Philosopher/Cognitive Scientist: Clark, Andy. (2003). Natural-born Cyborgs: Minds, Technologies, and the Future of Human Intelligence. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
SEARLE COMMENTARY PROJECT. Stay tuned for more details.
FINAL EXAM. The take-home final exam will be cumulative. The exam will be due on Friday, December 4 by 5:00 pm PST.
GRADING. Grades will be based on Book Project (25%), Searle Commentary Project (21%), Final Exam (30%), and four Reading Responses worth 6% each (24% total).
TO CONCLUDE...Your questions, comments, and answers in class reflect your engagement with the reading. Join us in class with your books, readings, notes, and thoughts, and come prepared to speak. Class participation is expected. Please come to class on time.
> > > ACADEMIC HONESTY < < <
You are expected to abide by the code of conduct of your College. Academic honesty means avoiding any form of cheating or plagiarism, including the copying and/or purchase of material on the Internet. Plagiarism is the failure to give credit to scholarship assimilated into one’s work, whether verbatim (word-for-word) or through adoption of ideas, arguments, and criticisms. As a general rule, any collection of 5 or more consecutive, unquoted words taken from another source is considered plagiarism. Any work containing plagiarized content will receive an automatic grade of F. We will also follow your College’s policy concerning the reporting of academic dishonesty to your Dean. It is your responsibility to give proper acknowledgment for indebted material. That said, if you have any questions about how you should handle something in one of your written assignments, do not hesitate to reach out to us.