150 Years of the Science of the Mind – A History of Psychology
J. Morris, Psychology
J. Hernandez Cruz, Philosophy & Cognitive Science
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The investigation of perception, reasoning, memory, and language
within a scientific framework has a varied and rich history. That
history has seen a transformation from a methodology based solely
on introspection to one based solely on observable behavior. The
inadequacies of behaviorism in turn lead to the emergence of a
cognitive, information-processing view of mentality. Recently,
the information processing view has begun to yield to a view informed
by neuroscientific research. |
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REQUIRED TEXTS Most of the crucial primary source material in the history of scientific psychology is available at no cost on the world wide web. The majority of the readings for the course will therefore be accessed through links to be found on the on-line version of the schedule of readings, below. Students are invited to follow these links through their own computers or through college computing facilities. Students should print out the material or have a portable electronic version (e.g., on a laptop or palmtop) available for reference during seminar meetings. If this arrangement is intractable, please contact either of the instructors. Readings not available on-line will be made available by the instructors.
SEMINAR RESOURCES Both instructors hold office hours each week. There are sign-up sheets posted on our office doors. Professor Morris is in ASH 103. Professor Cruz is in ASH 205. The digital classroom on the second floor of Adele Simmons Hall is available to all students. Open hours vary according to the schedule posted on the digital classroom door.
To RECEIVE AN EVALUATION, you must: 1. Attend - You are expected to attend every seminar meeting. Please contact
either of the instructors for missed material due to an excused
absence. Lectures will combine elements of the reading as well
as new material. 2. Participate - Thoughtful participation in seminar discussion will be one
indicator that you are doing the reading. 3. Write weekly seminar papers -- 3 pages (4 maximum). Typewritten, double spaced in a 12 point
font. No title page. You may choose any element of the reading to write on. For example, you may briefly summarize the issues of the reading and critically respond by using other material from the course. Or, you may take a direct quotation from the readings and give a focused critical appraisal of it. In general, a mere summary of the readings will not be adequate for the assignment. Please go beyond the readings by offering a disciplined, critical reaction. (Keep in mind that by 'critical' we do not mean that you must criticize the readings. Rather, we mean to suggest that your weekly papers should offer a reaction to the readings where the reaction is backed by reasons.) Weekly papers are due in Professor Cruz's mailbox (in the ASH office) by NOON on the TUESDAY before the class meeting. Alternatively, students may submit their work by electronic mail by late evening that day. Students may be asked to read their papers during the seminar in order to frame the discussion. You may skip 3 weekly papers over the course of the semester in order to complete work for other courses or for personal reasons. There are 13 weeks with weekly writing assignments (there is no writing assignment for the first class meeting).
4. Complete the Take-Home Final Exam - 12-15 pages. Monday, May 8 (Noon) to Tuesday, May 9 (Noon). The final project will be a take-home examination that students will have 24 hours to complete. The exam will be composed of three questions drawn from a much larger set of study questions that will be given out in advance (roughly two weeks before the end of the semester). Each of the three exam questions will require broad reflection on the themes of the course, and we expect that students will write 4-5 pages for each. Students are welcome and encouraged to collaborate in thinking about the study questions. The final exam, however, should be a strictly individual effort. Exams must reflect original thoughts and ideas. Any direct quotations
or paraphrased material from outside sources must be credited
and footnoted in your favorite style. Outside sources are not
required for an excellent exam. Violation of this constitutes
plagiarism. Typewritten, double spaced in a 12 point font.
Schedule of Topics & Readings January 26
February 2
23
March 1
22
April 5
12
May 3
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