Philosophy 446 / Psychology 446 / Philosophy 673

Cognitive Modelling

Winter, 2005

Professor: Paul Thagard

Office hours (HH368): MF 1:00-2:00; and by appointment.

Email: pthagard@uwaterloo.ca. Phone: extension 3594.

Web page: http://cogsci.uwaterloo.ca/courses/phil446.html.

Time: TTh, 1:00-2:20. PAS 1241.

Textbooks: T. Polk and C. Seifert, Cognitive Modeling. P. Winston and B. Horn, LISP.

Assignments: Marks will be based on:

  • 5 modelling assignments, 45%.
  • One-minute essays, 5%.
  • Project and report, 50%, due April 14.

Description: Students will implement computational models of human cognition, using concept-based, rule-based, neural network and other programs, and discuss their philosophical and psychological significance.\

Reading:

Week Dates Topic Polk & Seifert, chapter (required; recommended) Assignment
1 Jan. 4-6 Introduction Preface  
2 Jan. 11-13 Semantic nets 1  
3 Jan. 18-20 Rules 1; 3, 38 1
4 Jan. 25-27 Rules 19; 20, 37  
5 Feb. 1-3 Concepts 31; 18 2
6 Feb. 8-10 Analogy 27; 28, 30  
7 Feb. 15-17 Neural nets 6; 7, 8 3
8 Mar. 1-3 Neural nets 10; 11, 17, 29, 35  
9 Mar. 8-10 Emotions 14 4
10 Mar. 15-17 Language 12; 21, 22, 24  
11 Mar. 22-24 Vision 13  
12 Mar. 29-31 Student reports   5

To get a head start on learning the programming language LISP:

Cognitive Science resources

Lecture notes and assignments

"2005" indicates that the notes have been updated for this year's class. There will be some reorganization of the lecture notes as the term progresses.

Week 1: Introduction. LISP. 2005

Week 2: Semantic networks. 2005

Week 3: Rule-based systems. 2005

Week 4: Rule-based systems as cognitive models. 2005

Week 5: Frame-based (schema) systems. 2005