Professor Bradley Richards
bradrich@yorku.ca
Office Location:  N822 Ross Building
Phone Number:  TBA
Office Hour:  Mondays 12:45 - 2:45 (online)

We have sciences of the physical world (physics), chemical world (chemistry), and biological world
(biology). But can we have a science of the mind? Cognitive science answers affirmatively, and
seeks to understand the mind by integrating findings from such variegated disciplines as
philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, anthropology, and artificial
intelligence. Among the core ideas guiding cognitive science are that mental processes are
typically unconscious and computational; that the mind is a biological organ housed in the brain;
and that some mental capacities are modularly implemented and innate. We will critically examine
these core ideas and study their application to a wide range of phenomena, including perception,
language, mental imagery, reasoning, morality, mathematics, and consciousness. We will also
consider objections from skeptics who doubt that cognitive science can provide a comprehensive
science of the mind.

COURSE MEETINGS (HYBRID)
We will be meeting in person on Mondays only (not on Wednesdays).
On Wednesday I will post asynchronous lecture materials such as prerecorded, asynchronous, lectures
and slides (I may also post these materials for Monday’s material sometimes, but we will plan to
always meet in person on Monday to discuss the course materials in person).
This is a hybrid course with in person and online components.
Given all this, our first in person meeting will be Monday September 12th.

RECORDINGS POLICY
Lecture recordings are to be used for educational purposes only and as a means for enhancing
accessibility. Students do not have permission to duplicate, copy and/or distribute the
recordings outside of the class (these acts can violate not only copyright laws but also FIPPA).
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (online meetings may be held if necessary, but are not yet planned)
To attend online course meetings, students should have a device capable of running Zoom. In
addition to a stable, higher-speed Internet connection, it is preferred (but not required) that students have a device with a webcam and microphone. Here are some useful links for student
computing information, resources and help:
• Student Guide to eClass
• 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

ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING
Papers (2/3) 35%
Weekly Quizzes (9/12) 30%
Final Exam 30%
Tutorial Participation 5%
Papers. The papers require you to read about a study and demonstrate your understanding of it.
You must complete two out of three paper assignments, though if you do all three we’ll take your
two highest grades. Late papers are not accepted. Paper assignments will be posted on eClass
and are due on September 30th, October 30th, and November 30th.
Quizzes. Each week there will be a multiple-choice quiz covering the material from the lectures
and the readings for that week. The quiz opens 5pm each Thursday and closes 5pm each Friday.
Once you begin the quiz, you have 20 minutes to complete it. Late quizzes will not be accepted,
but you can drop your three lowest grades. The quizzes are open-book, so you are welcome to
consult your textbook, other readings, or lecture notes, but non-collaborative, so you must take
them alone and cannot discuss the questions with anyone else. This means that you are cheating
if you text your friend, use a chat room, messaging app, or study site, or otherwise communicate
with other people while you are taking the quiz. Don’t cheat. You are on your honour.

Final Exam. The final exam will be multiple-choice. You are expected to be present for it.
Alternative arrangements will only be made in extraordinary circumstances, must be arranged
ahead of the exam unless extraordinary circumstances prevent it, and must be well documented.
To document illness, you must provide an official York University Attending Physician’s Statement
that has been completed, signed, and stamped by a registered physician (there is usually a fee
for this, and it requires undergoing a medical examination).

SCHEDULE & READINGS
The following is an outline for the semester (though amendments may be made along the way).
The textbook is Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Science of the Mind, 3rd Edition, by José
Luis Bermúdez. (Note that this textbook also has earlier editions. It is important that you secure
the 3rd edition.) Other readings will be made available through eClass. You should do each reading
ahead of the lecture it’s paired with. As you read, take notes to put the main ideas into your own
words.
NB: The readings and lectures are meant to complement one another. This means that there is
material in the lectures that is not covered in the readings, and material in the readings that is not
covered in the lectures. To do well on the quizzes and final exam, you’ll thus need to attend the
lectures and do the readings.
Introducing Cognitive Science
7/9 Core Principles of Cognitive Science Syllabus
7/9 Behaviourism JLB 3–22
14/9 Turing Machines & Computation JLB 22–25
Crane, The Mechanical Mind, 83-99
Lande, “Do you compute?”
19/9 Language JLB 25–47
19/9 Mental Imagery JLB 47–53
Shepard & Metzler, “Mental Rotation of
Three-Dimensional Objects”
21/9 Marr’s Theory of Vision JLB 53–63
Enter the Brain
26/9 The Brain I: Basic Anatomy & Two Visual Systems JLB 65–76; 229–237
First Paper Due 5pm 9/30
28/9 The Brain II: Neurons & Recording Techniques JLB 80–95; 237–255
Mental Architecture
3/10 Classical Architectures I: Physical Symbol Systems JLB 99–106
5/10 Classical Architectures II: LOT; The Frame Problem JLB 106–114
10/10
Reading Week: No Class
12/10
Reading Week: No Class

1710 Classical Architectures III: The Chinese Room &
Intentionality
JLB 114–121
Searle, “Can Computers Think?”
19/10 Neural Networks I: Basics & Motivations JLB 76–80; 123–131
24/10 Neural Networks II: Perceptron Convergence &
Backprop
JLB 131–145
Second Paper Due 5pm 10/30
26/10 Neural Networks III: Machine Learning, Deep
Learning, & Hybrid Architectures
JLB 219–226; 307–332
Lewis-Kraus, “The Great AI Awakening”
Hofstadter, “The Shallowness of Google
Translate”
31/10 & 2/11 Bayesianism JLB 171–200
7/11 Mental Organization I: Perception JLB 203–210
9/11 Mental Organization II: Central Systems JLB 210–219
Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow, Ch. 1
Special Topics: Consciousness, Object Perception, Selves, Freewill
14/11 Consciousness I JLB 379–403
16/11 Consciousness II Block, 2011. Perceptual consciousness
overflows conscious access
Video – Debate on Unconscious Perception
21/11 Crowding Block, 2012 The Grain of Seeing and the
Grain of Attention
Third Paper Due 5pm 11/30
23/11 Selves, Split-Brain Bayne 2022, The Self (Ch 13)
28/11 Unity Bayne and Chalmers, The Unity of
Consciousness
30/11 Freewill and Action Eccles, Facing Reality, 1970 118-129
Maoz, Yaffe, Koch, & Mudrik (2019)
Neural Precursors of decisions that
matter

TBA

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All forms of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, will be taken extremely
seriously. Potential penalties include, but are not limited to, failure of the assignment and/or failure
of the course. In addition, students who plagiarize or cheat on any assignments forfeit their
privilege to drop their lowest grades. Students are expected to be familiar with York’s policy
regarding academic integrity: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/. All students are expected
to complete the Honour Code Pledge on eClass.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We are committed to fairly accommodating students with disabilities. Please contact us as soon
as possible with the relevant documentation from Student Accessibility Services.
RESOURCES
York has a variety of resources to help students succeed. Here are some of them.
• Mental Health
• Writing Centre
• Academic Advising
• Learning Commons
• Peer Mentorship