030054 Introductory Math and Programming for Computational Philosophy (Yoo)
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This course, conducted in English, is complementary to "Agent-based Simulations in Philosophy" course (winter semester).
In recent years, many philosophical developments have made use of heavy computer simulations and gigantic data sets. However, it is a big challenge for philosophy students to engage in such studies, especially for those who lack the required foundations, such as computer programming or probability theory. This course aims to equip students with these foundational tools in programming and math, thus empowering students to engage in contemporary philosophical literature.
Thanks to the advances in modern technology and measurement techniques, scientists can carry out theoretical analyses that involve intense computations. Yet, these tools use large data sets and computer calculations and therefore come with the burden of mathematics and computer programming skills. Philosophers, too, have started to adopt methods relying on computers. For instance, epistemologists have started using computer simulation tools to examine knowledge in a social context where multiple agents interact with each other. The main points made in these works are accessible for a broader philosophical audience. But still, they require basic understanding of math and coding for a good comprehension, and furthermore replicating their arguments. This course aims to provide some of those basic requirements.
Participants are not expected to have taken prior math courses. We plan to proceed step-by-step by starting with some seminal papers in the discipline of network epistemology. From then on, we go through matrix algebra, calculus, statistics, and graph theory. An introduction to Julia programming and practices will be included as we conclude each section.
Evaluation (both graded and non-graded credits) is done by an exam focusing on key concepts: eigenvalues, differentiation, probability distribution, and centrality measures. Participants can earn extra exam points by submitting their Julia coding practices on these key concepts.
030111 Aesthetic Cognitivism: How the Arts Enhance our Understanding of the World (Vernazzani)
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Artworks like paintings, novels, poetry, dramas, comics, movies, etc. do not merely entertain us, they also enrich our understanding of the world: think of how the tale of the Great Inquisitor in Dostoevskij’s Brothers Karamazov or the brothers Strugackij’s novel Hard to be a God outline complex moral dilemmas; whereas other artworks, like Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman or Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis, offer a window into others’ condition. Under the label “aesthetic cognitivism” we group all philosophical views that seek to clarify in what ways artworks deepen our understanding of the human condition.
In this seminar, we will discuss philosophical texts as well as different kinds of artworks (movies, literary texts, poems, comics, etc.) and explore questions such as: Can artworks be arguments? Does literature enhance our empathic imagination? Is there a distinctively aesthetic form of rationality? What is the relation between games and agency? Does music lead to a deeper self-understanding? How should we think of imaginative
030054 Introductory Math and Programming for Computational Philosophy (Yoo)
-
This course, conducted in English, is complementary to "Agent-based Simulations in Philosophy" course (winter semester).
In recent years, many philosophical developments have made use of heavy computer simulations and gigantic data sets. However, it is a big challenge for philosophy students to engage in such studies, especially for those who lack the required foundations, such as computer programming or probability theory. This course aims to equip students with these foundational tools in programming and math, thus empowering students to engage in contemporary philosophical literature.
Thanks to the advances in modern technology and measurement techniques, scientists can carry out theoretical analyses that involve intense computations. Yet, these tools use large data sets and computer calculations and therefore come with the burden of mathematics and computer programming skills. Philosophers, too, have started to adopt methods relying on computers. For instance, epistemologists have started using computer simulation tools to examine knowledge in a social context where multiple agents interact with each other. The main points made in these works are accessible for a broader philosophical audience. But still, they require basic understanding of math and coding for a good comprehension, and furthermore replicating their arguments. This course aims to provide some of those basic requirements.
Participants are not expected to have taken prior math courses. We plan to proceed step-by-step by starting with some seminal papers in the discipline of network epistemology. From then on, we go through matrix algebra, calculus, statistics, and graph theory. An introduction to Julia programming and practices will be included as we conclude each section.
Evaluation (both graded and non-graded credits) is done by an exam focusing on key concepts: eigenvalues, differentiation, probability distribution, and centrality measures. Participants can earn extra exam points by submitting their Julia coding practices on these key concepts.
030005 Introduction into Cognitive Science (Newen, Rose, Schlicht)
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The lecture is offered in English only. Philosophy students can participate in this intensely interdisciplinary lecture to learn central concepts and methods in cognitive science. Cognitive science developed into a central basis of modern philosophy of mind, epistemology and theories of AI systems. Thus, we offer philosophy students (in all programs) insight into Cognitive Science. A precondition is a very good performance in the logic course in philosophy. The lecture can be used to earn an ungraded certificate on the basis of a written exam. Philosophy students can choose a focus on theoretical concepts but also have to learn central knowledge in cognitive neuroscience as well as computational modelling.
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Date Topic CogSci
17.10.2023 Theoretical Frameworks in Cognitive Science 1
24.10.2023 Cognitive Neuroscience of Perception
31.10.2023 Theoretical Frameworks in Cognitive Science 2
07.11.2023 Theories of Consciousness
14.11.2023 Cognitive models of semantics and pragmatics
21.11.2023 Cognitive Neuroscience of Emotion
28.11.2023 Theories of Emotion
05.12.2023 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
12.12.2023 Theory of Perception and Cognition
19.12.2023 Stress and its role for cognitive abilities
09.01.2024 Computational approaches to Cognitive Science
16.01.2024 Reinforcement Learning in the Brain 1
23.01.2024 Reinforcement Learning in the Brain 2
30.01.2024 Supervised Learning in Neural Networks
The literature will be provided via moodle during the course.
030119 Colloquium Philosophy of Information and Communication (Liefke)
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This colloquium (co-organized with Prof. Daniel Gutzmann, Germanistik) serves the discussion of current topics in semantics, pragmatics, and the philosophy of language. The colloquium combine talks by international experts with presentations of local researchers and (PhD/MA) students. Students will be given the opportunity to present their (ongoing) work in English. A detailed schedule will be available by mid-March at https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/phil-inf/colloquium/index.html.en.
030132 Philosophy Meets Cognitive Science: Memory and Language (Werning)
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In the research colloquium current topics at the interface between Philosophy and Cognitive Science will be discussed. The colloquium hosts talks by leading international experts and local researchers as well as presentations by doctoral and master students. Students will be given the (assisted) opportunity to present their projects in English.
This semester the sessions of the research colloquium will alternate in a bi-weekly rhythm between the topics “Memory” and “Language”. A detailed schedule will be published in due course at https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/phil-lang/colloquium.html. Talks will be held either online via Zoom or in person.
030005 Introduction into Cognitive Science (Newen, Rose)
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The lecture is offered in English only. Philosophy students can participate in this intensely interdisciplinary lecture to learn central concepts and methods in cognitive science. Cognitive science developed into a central basis of modern philosophy of mind, epistemology and theories of AI systems. Thus, we offer philosophy students (in all programs) insight into Cognitive Science. A precondition is a very good performance in the logic course in philosophy. The lecture can be used to earn an ungraded certificate on the basis of a written exam. Philosophy students can choose a focus on theoretical concepts but also have to learn central knowledge in cognitive neuroscience as well as computational modelling.
The detailed sequence of the lectures and topics will be announced in the first session which will start with Lecture 1 “Theoretical Frameworks in Cognitive Science 1”. Central Topics of the lectures include the following (open for change of sequences and some adjustments of research topics each year):
Theoretical Frameworks in Cognitive Science 1
Cognitive Neuroscience of Perception
Theoretical Frameworks in Cognitive Science 2
Theories of Consciousness
Cognitive models of semantics and pragmatics
Cognitive Neuroscience of Emotion
Theories of Emotion
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
Theory of Perception and Cognition
Stress and its role for cognitive abilities
Computational approaches to Cognitive Science
Reinforcement Learning in the Brain 1
Reinforcement Learning in the Brain 2
Supervised Learning in Neural Networks
030092 The Philosophy of Animal Minds (Starzak)
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Can animals think? And if so, what do they think about and what are the limits of animal thought? Are they rational in the same sense humans are? Or is there a distinct animal rationality? Do they have concepts or beliefs? Do they understand causality or other minds? How can we get access to the animal mind? And how can we choose between alternative explanations for animal behavior? Philosophers have been discussing questions like these since antiquity and they do so for various reasons. Answers to these questions can have important implications for animal ethics but they are also important from an anthropological perspective, since one possible way to determine human nature is by comparison to non-human animals. But is there really an essential difference between humans and non-human animals, a so-called anthropological difference? Or are there only gradual differences that add up to something that seems more fundamental than it really is? Finally, what can we learn about the psychological abilities in question and our mental vocabulary by studying the animal mind?
In this seminar we´ll discuss these philosophical questions in due consideration of the relevant empirical literature from comparative psychology.
030110 Philosophy and norm psychology (Berio)
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Every aspect of our life is permeated by norms - but how do we learn them? What psychological mechanisms underlie our ability to internalize and follow norms, and how did these mechanisms evolve?
The class offers an overview of interdisciplinary research into the psychological capacity for norm-guided cognition, motivation, and behavior.
000000 Epistemology of AI (Schmidt)
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(Dortmund cooperation seminar)
Location: Emil-Frigge-Straße 50, 2.242.
The seminar will investigate artificial intelligence from an epistemological angle. One focus of the seminar will be on the question of black box AI systems: Why is it difficult to understand many modern AI systems? What tools can help us make AI systems more transparent? What follows from the black box nature of some systems for our ability to know on their basis? Further, we will investigate whether (or under what circumstances) we can trust AI systems, such as Large Language Models, as givers of testimony. Is this analogous to our trust in experts? Or should we conceive of it in a very different way? A third focus will concern the use of data by AI systems, and how this might conflict with the privacy of users. How should the interests of tech companies and of users be balanced? We will highlight the ethical impact of these and similar epistemological questions.
Literature: Claus Beisbart and Tim Räz (2022). Philosophy of science at sea: Clarifying the interpretability of machine learning. Philosophy Compass 17(6), e12830. https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12830
Sina Fazelpour and David Danks (2021). Algorithmic bias: Senses, sources, solutions. Philosophy Compass 16(8), e12760. https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12760
030056 Seminar in Philosophy of Science – Progress in Science (Yoo)
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What is scientific progress? One could see it as stacking bits of knowledge through research and other investigative activities in science. As time flows, there is progress in science since we accumulate more and more knowledge. This view has been widely held throughout history, and it is commonly endorsed even nowadays. But at least to philosophers, this accumulation viewpoint on progress in science has come under critical scrutiny since Kuhn, Lakatos and others proposed different conceptions of scientific progress. This seminar aims to investigate these diverse accounts of the progress of scientific knowledge. We start with a general introduction to some philosophical theories by Kuhn, Popper, and Lakatos. Then, we narrow our focus on scientific progress by reviewing some chapters from a classic on this topic, "Progress and Its Problems" by Larry Laudan. We finalize this seminar with some recent discussions, such as those from Alexander Bird. This seminar is designed for students at the introductory level, whether they are in the early stages of studying philosophy or studying other majors. Thus, students do not require preliminary knowledge or previous participation in relevant courses. Credits and evaluation are based on submitting weekly hand-written scribbles and one final essay, depending on the students' needs.
030131 Philosophy Meets Cognitive Science: Memory and Language (Werning)
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In the research colloquium current topics at the interface between Philosophy and Cognitive Science will be discussed. The colloquium hosts talks by leading international experts and local researchers as well as presentations by doctoral and master students. Students will be given the (assisted) opportunity to present their projects in English.
This semester the sessions of the research colloquium will alternate in a bi-weekly rhythm between the topics “Memory” and “Language”. A detailed schedule will be published in due course at https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/phil-lang/colloquium.html. Talks will be held either online via Zoom or in person.
030104 Stories of selves: Identity and social construction in Philosophy and Western literature (Berio)
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Western folk wisdom about personal identity tends to promote the idea that we have one stable and unified self, a relatively coherent core including values, preferences, and dispositions that define us no matter the context and situation. This is reflected in the value we attribute to coherence and authenticity as virtues to cultivate and pursue, and it is often tied to culturally-specific emphasis on individual psychology and on individuals as clearly distinct from their social environment. This class will look at philosophical theories of identity and the self and analyze fictional work through the lens of these theories: in particular, we will engage with how some works in European and American literature in the 20th century have conceived of the relationship between the self, society, social roles, and the act of narration. We will start by analyzing some of the main objections to the idea of a distinct, stable self. In doing so, we will also discuss philosophical accounts of self that stress the role of culture and socialization in the creation of our personal identities, as well as the role of narratives. We will then read and analyze a number of fictional texts (mostly from European and American literature of the 20th century) that engage with a variety of themes related to identity and the self: the (at times frightening) fragmentation and pluralization of the self, its narrative and perhaps fictional nature, its malleability, the (im)possibility of authenticity, and the loss of a sense of identity.
030129 Colloquium Philosophy of Information and Communication (Liefke)
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This colloquium (co-organized with Prof. Daniel Gutzmann, Germanistik) serves the discussion of current topics in semantics, pragmatics, and the philosophy of language. The colloquium combines talks by international experts with presentations of local researchers and (PhD/MA) students. Students will be given the opportunity to present their (ongoing) work in English. A detailed schedule will be available by mid-March at https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/phil-inf/colloquium/index.html.en.
030130 Philosophy Meets Cognitive Science: Memory and Language (Werning)
-
In the research colloquium current topics at the interface between Philosophy and Cognitive Science will be discussed. The colloquium hosts talks by leading international experts and local researchers as well as presentations by doctoral and master students. Students will be given the (assisted) opportunity to present their projects in English.
This semester the sessions of the research colloquium will alternate in a bi-weekly rhythm between the topics "Memory" and "Language". A detailed schedule will be published in due course at https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/phil-lang/colloquium.html . Talks will be held either online via Zoom or in person.
030078 Social Epistemology: Diversity and Wisdom of the Crowds (Michelini)
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Have you ever wondered whether asking a large group of people to take political decisions is epistemically sound? Are you curious if an assembly of everyday (but diverse) citizens can outshine seasoned politicians in leading a city? Intrigued by whether or not a jury of laypeople surpasses a single worldly juror in judging defendants? If so, this course is made for you.
In recent years, philosophers have engaged in an ongoing debate to determine which communities excel at finding epistemic solutions and making informed decisions. This discussion has generated two fascinating hypotheses:
1. Diverse groups of problem-solvers trump non-diverse experts in decision-making.
2. Large groups of people, under specific conditions, exhibit remarkable epistemic accuracy (Wisdom Of the Crowd).
The implications of these hypotheses are profound. For instance, the second point serves as an epistemic justification for democracy, as it posits that democracy is the superior political system for making correct decisions. In this course, we delve into the arguments supporting and challenging both hypotheses, and explore their socio-epistemological validity. We also dedicate a brief section of the course to analyzing computational models that bolster these hypotheses. Furthermore, we discuss the role of these arguments in political philosophy, drawing parallels with the notions of epistemic diversity and epistemic performance in philosophy of science.
The course aims at fostering discussion among students through activities and "games" during the lectures. You will be encouraged to write and discuss various aspects of the topic. The course will be conducted in English, and the reading list will be provided as the course progresses. No prior knowledge is required to enroll.
030091 Research Seminar on Contradictory Logics (Wansing)
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This seminar is related to the ERC-Advanced Grant project ConLog, Contradictory Logics: A Radical Challenge to Logical Orthodoxy, and contributes to the idea of research-based learning. The seminar is open to M.A. students with an interest in philosophical logic, the philosophy of logic, and the philosophies of language and of science.
In the 20th century, many systems of non-classical logic have been developed, including inconsistency-tolerant logics, which are typically all subsystems of classical logic. There are, however, logical systems that are radically different from classical logic insofar as they are non-trivial but contradictory. These logics are in glaring conflict with logical orthodoxy since Aristotle, who called the Principle of Non-Contradiction the firmest of all principles. Non-trivial contradictory logics not only permit inconsistencies in theories, but contain provable contradictions.
A prerequisite for a successful attendance in the seminar is some knowledge of non-classical logic and modal logic, including familiarity with Gentzen-style proof systems and Kripke models. We will discuss ongoing research into non-trivial contradictory logics and their applications in the philosophy of logic, and will read research papers, old and new, dealing with the notions of contradictoriness, consistency, negation, triviality, and related concepts. These papers may range from rather informal to formal studies. Students can earn credits by presenting a paper and will get detailed feedback. The seminar will continue to run over several semesters.
Students interested in experimental work on the endorsement or rejection of certain logical principles that play a crucial role in obtaining non-trivial negation-inconsistent logics are also very welcome.
030127 Interdisciplinary Reading Club: Recent Debates on Situated Cognition (Newen, Wolf)
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The colloquium is organized for PhD students and for advanced Master Students only who are already working on their Master thesis. We will offer regular presentations half from PhD-students from Bochum and half from external guests. The presentations will all be in the general domain of theoretical philosophy and cognitive sciences focusing on ‘Situated Cognition’. The presentations should ideally but not necessarily have some interdisciplinary dimension such that perspectives from philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and neurosciences can be systematically interconnected. The aim of the colloquium is to offer a platform for discussion of ongoing research in the RTG-group ‘Situated Cognition’ and further research projects on social understanding, the self, episodic memory, the perception-cognition divide.
PhD-students who are interested in presentations should write an email to both organizers (albert.newen@rub.de and Julia Wolf (julia.wolf-n8i@rub.de) and come to the first meeting. The program of the semester will be fixed then. PhD students can receive credit points for an active participation if they are part of the new PhD-program. Master students can receive standard CPs (ungraded certificate) for a presentation in the colloquium (in the case of an additional essay, Master students can receive standard CV and a graded certificate).
030116 Social Epistemology of Bad Beliefs: Filter Bubbles, Informational Cascades, and Identity Beliefs (Michelini, Seselja)
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Why do individuals harbor false beliefs? Frequently, people lack the necessary evidence to form accurate ones. However, in specific instances, individuals possess ample evidence and yet persist in adopting bad beliefs—false beliefs held in contradiction to the available evidence. Think of climate change deniers. Empirical evidence indicates that most climate change deniers are aware that scientific results contrast their beliefs, but they hold them nonetheless. Why is that so? What brings people to form bad beliefs?
This course embarks on the quest to unravel this very question, drawing from the rapidly expanding philosophical literature on the subject. We'll begin by exploring what it means to respond appropriately to evidence. Subsequently, we'll review the most important philosophical accounts of bad beliefs.
These accounts take for granted that the cause of bad beliefs is not to be found in the cognitive deficiencies of the individuals, but rather in their socio-epistemic environment. Think again of climate change deniers. May it be that they hold such false beliefs because they trust the wrong experts? Or maybe because by doing so, they will get some benefits from others in the group? Or could they be stuck in a filter bubble, in which scientists are regarded as charlatans?
While the primary focus of our literature exploration will be social epistemology, we'll also draw insights from social science and social psychology. Moreover, a brief section of the course will be dedicated to examining computational models that simulate the formation of bad beliefs.
The course aims at fostering discussions among students through activities and "games" during the lectures. You will be encouraged to write and discuss various aspects of the topic. The course will be conducted in English, and the reading list will be provided as the course progresses. No prior knowledge is required to enroll.
030100 Research seminar on contradictory logics (Wansing)
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This seminar is related to the ERC-Advanced Grant project ConLog, Contradictory Logics: A Radical Challenge to Logical Orthodoxy, and contributes to the idea of research-based learning. The seminar is open to M.A. students with an interest in philosophical logic, the philosophy of logic, and the philosophies of language and of science. Students are invited to suggest papers and topics related to negation inconsistent logics.
In the 20th century, many systems of non-classical logic have been developed, including inconsistency-tolerant logics, which are typically all subsystems of classical logic. There are, however, logical systems that are radically different from classical logic insofar as they are non-trivial but contradictory. These logics are in glaring conflict with logical orthodoxy since Aristotle, who called the Principle of Non-Contradiction the firmest of all principles. Non-trivial contradictory logics not only permit inconsistencies in theories, but contain provable contradictions.
A prerequisite for a successful attendance in the seminar is some knowledge of non-classical logic and modal logic, including familiarity with Gentzen-style proof systems and Kripke models. We will discuss ongoing research into non-trivial contradictory logics and their applications in the philosophy of logic, and will read research papers, old and new, dealing with the notions of contradictoriness, consistency, negation, triviality, and related concepts. These papers may range from rather informal to formal studies. Students can earn credits by presenting a paper and will get detailed feedback. The seminar will continue to run over several semesters.
Students interested in experimental work on the endorsement or rejection of certain logical principles that play a crucial role in obtaining non-trivial negation-inconsistent logics are also very welcome.
030099 Cognitive Systems and the Extended Mind (Venter)
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In this course, we will work through Rob Rupert’s 2009 ‘Cognitive Systems and the Extended Mind’. The book is a survey of philosophical issues that are faced by situated cognition with a particular focus on extended cognition – the view that cognitive processes extend beyond the boundary of the agent. The book deals, amongst other issues, with the problem of demarcation – the question about what is cognitive and what is not. Rupert argues that an extended approach to this problem is implausible. He posits a systems-based approach, i.e., the view that “a state is cognitive if and only if it consists in, or is realized by, the activation of one or more mechanisms that are elements of the integrated set members of which contribute causally and distinctively to the production of cognitive phenomena” (Rupert, 2009). We will critically examine this debate and evaluate the implication for both the situated and classical views in cognitive science.
030136 Interdisciplinary Reading Club: Recent in Philosophy of Mind and Situated Cognitions (Newen)
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The colloquium is organized for PhD students and for advanced Master Students only (of several programs) who are already working on their Master thesis or at least have decided to work out the master thesis in the area of theoretical philosophy. We will offer regular presentations half from master- and PhD-students from Bochum and half from external guests. The presentations will all be in the general domain of theoretical philosophy and cognitive sciences, many of them discussing problems in philosophy of mind or in the area of ‘Situated Cognition’. The presentations should ideally but not necessarily have some interdisciplinary dimension such that perspectives from philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and neurosciences can be systematically interconnected. The aim of the colloquium is to offer a platform for discussion of ongoing research in the RTG-group ‘Situated Cognition’ and further research projects on social understanding, the self, episodic memory, the perception-cognition divide and many more.
PhD-students who are interested in presentations should write an email to both organizers (albert.newen@rub.de and Julia Wolf (julia.wolf-n8i@rub.de) and come to the first meeting. The program of the semester will be fixed then. PhD students can receive credit points for an active participation if they are part of the new PhD-program. Master students can receive standard CPs (ungraded certificate) for a presentation in the colloquium (in the case of an additional essay, Master students can receive standard CV and a graded certificate).
030095 Formal Logic (Seminar) (Skurt)
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030099 Bayesian Epistemology (Wang)
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This course introduces selected topics in Bayesian epistemology. Bayesian epistemology provides formal models of credence and discusses how to rationally form, organize, and update credences in light of evidence. To offer a partial overview of this fast-growing research field, our course encompasses foundational, challenging, and practical problems. The first part of the course addresses various synchronic and diachronic rationality norms for credence, such as probabilism, the principle of indifference, and principles of deference. The second part deals with some of the most discussed challenges, such as the sleeping beauty problem, the old evidence problem, uncertain learning, and modelling the weights of evidence. The final part explores how Bayesian epistemology can be applied to everyday and scientific reasoning, including inductive (confirmation), abductive (inference to the best explanation), and causal reasoning (causal Bayesian networks). A basic knowledge of first-order logic is presupposed, and familiarity with probability calculus and set-theoretical reasoning is welcome. The course is accompanied by an exercise unit where weekly exercises are discussed.
030091 Research seminar on contradictory logics (Wansing)
-
This seminar is related to the ERC-Advanced Grant project ConLog, Contradictory Logics: A Radical Challenge to Logical Orthodoxy, and contributes to the idea of research-based learning. The seminar is open to M.A. students with an interest in philosophical logic, the philosophy of logic, and the philosophies of language and of science.
In the 20th century, many systems of non-classical logic have been developed, including inconsistency-tolerant logics, which are typically all subsystems of classical logic. There are, however, logical systems that are radically different from classical logic insofar as they are non-trivial but contradictory. These logics are in glaring conflict with logical orthodoxy since Aristotle, who called the Principle of Non-Contradiction the firmest of all principles. Non-trivial contradictory logics not only permit inconsistencies in theories, but contain provable contradictions.
A prerequisite for a successful attendance in the seminar is some knowledge of non-classical logic and modal logic, including familiarity with Gentzen-style proof systems and Kripke models. We will discuss ongoing research into non-trivial contradictory logics and their applications in the philosophy of logic, and will read research papers, old and new, dealing with the notions of contradictoriness, consistency, negation, triviality, and related concepts. These papers may range from rather informal to formal studies. Students can earn credits by presenting a paper and will get detailed feedback. The seminar will continue to run over several semesters.
Students interested in experimental work on the endorsement or rejection of certain logical principles that play a crucial role in obtaining non-trivial negation-inconsistent logics are also very welcome.
030103 Predictive Processing: Applications and Implications (Venter)
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This seminar offers a deep dive into predictive processing, a theory positing the brain as a hypothesis-testing mechanism aimed at minimizing discrepancies between predictions and sensory inputs, and its extensive implications across philosophy, cognitive science, and interdisciplinary studies. We will explore how this model reshapes our understanding of perception, cognition, belief, and knowledge, delving into its theoretical foundations and the philosophical questions it raises, particularly in epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of AI. Key themes include the historical development of predictive processing, its redefinition of sensory experiences and decision-making processes through Bayesian inference and error minimization, and its impact on understanding mental disorders and altered states of consciousness. The seminar also examines the application of predictive processing in philosophy of mind—such as social cognition and emotional disorders—and in technological fields like AI. Through weekly discussions and critical analysis of both primary and secondary texts, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of predictive processing, enabling them to critically evaluate its philosophical dimensions and apply these insights in various philosophical and practical contexts.
030127 Interdisciplinary Reading Club: Recent Debates on Situated Cognition (Newen, Wolf)
-
The colloquium is organized for PhD students and for advanced Master Students only who are already working on their Master thesis. We will offer regular presentations half from PhD-students from Bochum and half from external guests. The presentations will all be in the general domain of theoretical philosophy and cognitive sciences focusing on ‘Situated Cognition’. The presentations should ideally but not necessarily have some interdisciplinary dimension such that perspectives from philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and neurosciences can be systematically interconnected. The aim of the colloquium is to offer a platform for discussion of ongoing research in the RTG-group ‘Situated Cognition’ and further research projects on social understanding, the self, episodic memory, the perception-cognition divide.
PhD-students who are interested in presentations should write an email to both organizers (albert.newen@rub.de and Julia Wolf (julia.wolf-n8i@rub.de) and come to the first meeting. The program of the semester will be fixed then. PhD students can receive credit points for an active participation if they are part of the new PhD-program. Master students can receive standard CPs (ungraded certificate) for a presentation in the colloquium (in the case of an additional essay, Master students can receive standard CV and a graded certificate).
030100 Research seminar on contradictory logics (Wansing)
-
This seminar is related to the ERC-Advanced Grant project ConLog, Contradictory Logics: A Radical Challenge to Logical Orthodoxy, and contributes to the idea of research-based learning. The seminar is open to M.A. students with an interest in philosophical logic, the philosophy of logic, and the philosophies of language and of science. Students are invited to suggest papers and topics related to negation inconsistent logics. In the 20th century, many systems of non-classical logic have been developed, including inconsistency-tolerant logics, which are typically all subsystems of classical logic. There are, however, logical systems that are radically different from classical logic insofar as they are nontrivial but contradictory. These logics are in glaring conflict with logical orthodoxy since Aristotle, who called the Principle of Non-Contradiction the firmest of all principles. Nontrivial contradictory logics not only permit inconsistencies in theories, but contain provable contradictions.
A prerequisite for a successful attendance in the seminar is some knowledge of non-classical logic and modal logic, including familiarity with Gentzen-style proof systems and Kripke models. We will discuss ongoing research into non-trivial contradictory logics and their applications in the philosophy of logic, and will read research papers, old and new, dealing with the notions of contradictoriness, consistency, negation, triviality, and related concepts. In the summer term 2025 we will, in particular, discuss some chapters from a still unpublished book manuscript titled "An Introduction to Connexive Logic". Students can earn credits by presenting a paper or book chapter and will get detailed feedback.
030095 Gödel: The Unprovability of the Consistency of Arithmetic (Übung) (Kürbis, Skurt)
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The Übung accompanying the lectures is an integral part of the course in which understanding of concepts introduced in the lectures is furthered through exercises, which also complete the discussion of the topics of the lectures. It is warmly recommended to students to attend both parts of the course.
030130 Colloquium on Ancient Philosophy (Sattler)
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Dieses Kolloquium ist für alle Studentinnen und Studenten gedacht, die an einer Abschlussarbeit oder einer größeren Arbeit sitzen, die entweder in den Bereich der antiken Philosophie fällt oder Bezüge zur antiken Philosophie aufweist. Es ist als freundliches Forum gedacht, wo diese Arbeiten vorgestellt werden können und lädt zudem Vortragende von auswärts ein. Das Kolloquium kann auch als Lesegruppe und Diskussionsforum für die Lektüre von neuerschienenen Texten zur antiken Philosophie dienen.
030130 Kolloquium zur Antiken Philosophie (Sattler)
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Im ersten Teil des Semesters werden wir uns zur gemeinsamen Lektüre ausgewählter Texte zur griechischen Naturphilosophie im Original treffen. Im zweiten Teil des Semesters werden wir uns zu einem zweitägigen Workshop treffen, in dem die Teilnehmenden Ihre Arbeiten im Bereich der antiken Philosophie vorstellen.
Wenn Sie an dem Kolloquium teilnehmen wollen, senden Sie bitte vor Semesterbeginn eine E-Mail an die Dozentin.
030096 Formal Logic (Exercises) (Skurt)
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030105 Exercises: Bayesian Epistemology (Wang)
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This is the exercise session for the course "Bayesian Epistemology: Theory, Challenges, and Applications"
030130 Colloquium Ancient Philosophy (Sattler)
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Dieses Kolloquium ist für alle Studentinnen und Studenten gedacht, die an einer Abschlussarbeit oder einer größeren Arbeit sitzen, die entweder in den Bereich der antiken Philosophie fällt oder Bezüge zur antiken Philosophie aufweist. Es ist als freundliches Forum gedacht, wo diese Arbeiten vorgestellt werden können und lädt zudem Vortragende von auswärts ein. Das Kolloquium kann auch als Lesegruppe und Diskussionsforum für die Lektüre von neuerschienenen Texten zur antiken Philosophie dienen.