→ Seminar overview → What is cognition? → Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? → instructions for easter activities

What is cognition? Next Later

What is cognition? What is cognition? How does your partner answer this question? What would be the answer of her/his background discipline? “Dig into” each other’s opinions, focusing especially on differences of view and anything that surprises you. What phenomena are you especially interested in? Why? What do you regard as the current “hot topics” in cogsci? Try to explain your interests to your partner as best you can at the moment. Try to be clear, and keep it simple. Help your partner explain her/his interests by asking back along the lines of “did I get that right? do you mean such-and-such” and giving feedback.

10 minutes break

What is cognition? present your partner’s view on cognition (< 3 minutes) comment briefly on your partner’s account – and add “corrections” if necessary. briefly present your interests to the plenum as clearly as possible (< 3 minutes)

→ Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? → Seminar overview → What is cognition? → Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? → Instructions for easter activities Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08

World Café: knowing about cognition 1 Where do we notice/get aware of cognition in everyday life? Witch phenomena should a “science of the mind” investigate? 2 Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? How can we, in principle, find out something about the mind? What are the goals of finding stuff out about the mind? What are the criteria that need to be fullfilled so that you would consider an aspect of cognition to be (adequately) explained, or understood? 3

→ Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? → Seminar overview → What is cognition? → Where does our knowledge about cognition come from? → Instructions for easter activities Rossmanith, Reichelt SS08

2 easter explorations: 1 Exploring Experience in Everyday Life (1st person) 2 Exploring Everyday Life Behavior (3rd person)

1 Exploring Experience in Everyday Life a coarse perspective: actively watch yourself as you go about your everyday life for a couple of hours take down what comes up, when, in what context, and how a detailed look: choose one specific situation and observe closely how it unfolds. Some suggestions: observing an object, manipulating an object, moving your body, communicating (difficult!), problem solving such as making tea, preparing a chess move, solving an equation… take your time and put down your experience as accurately and detailed as possible

2 Exploring Everyday Life Behavior a coarse perspective: while going about your activities of daily life, pay attention to other people’s behavior and try to describe it. Describe what you have seen and what struck you as interesting a detailed look: closely observe how someone (of any species ;-) performs a specific activity. Try to be unobtrusive (no stalking, please). You might select a similar activity to the one you observed yourself doing. take your time and put down your observations as accurately and detailed as possible

after doing this please answer the questions we send to you. deadline: please e-mail the answers to the questions until March 29th (so we can prepare for the communication and exchange on Monday 31st…) all this is already part of your ongoing learning journal…