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851-0367-00L 2 Credits DS D-GESS

Introduction to Human Mind through Neuroscience, 4E Cognition and Systems Theory

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Hanna Poikonen
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:34:02

Abstract

In this course, we will discuss the origin of neuroscience starting from the historical perspective of mind-body dualism and the roots of neuroscience in analytical philosophy. We will dismantle the assumption of human brain as a machine and understand its analog and context-dependent nature with phenomenology, sociology, and systemic thinking.

Objective

Students will: - Learn to situate neuroscience among philosophical and social perspectives on the human mind. - Critically reflect upon and understand the epistemology of neuroscientific evidence. - Learn the basics of brain imaging study design and analysis (EEG) and compare them to phenomenological and systemic study designs. - Complete a final short paper on a subtopic related to human mind from neuroscientific, phenomenological, and systemic perspectives. By the end of the course, students should be able to: - Demonstrate a critical understanding of neuroscience in philosophical and sociological contexts. - Understand the basics of neuroscientific, phenomenological, and systemic study designs. - Apply understanding on human mind to different socio-cultural settings.

Content

On the course, students will be introduced to the challenges of the neuroscientific study design in socio-cultural settings, and their perspective on human mind will be broadened from brain to phenomenological and systemic approaches. A key focus will be to understand the limits, the common pitfalls, and misconceptions about brain research, and in turn, critically reflect upon, question, and understand the epistemology of neuroscientific evidence. In this course, participants will learn in a hands-on manner the basics of study designs investigating the human mind. Participants will learn the core factors of brain imaging, phenomenological and systemic study designs, and further, they will be able to interpret the brain imaging results critically within the real-world context the data were collected. Students from any discipline are welcome to this course to learn in theoretical and hands-on manners if and how brain research can improve our understanding of the human mind in real-world situations in parallel with phenomenology and social sciences.

Resources

Lecture Notes

The course will be organised as a block course on February 10th-14th 2025:Monday February 10th at 11.15-17Tuesday February 11th at 10.15-16Wednesday February 12th at 10.15-16Thursday February 13th at 10.15-16Friday February 14th at 10.15-14

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DS

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Graded performance: Essay

Registration & Places

Max Places
38

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Introduction to Human Mind through Neuroscience, 4E Cognition and Systems Theory
  • 10.02. - 13.02 Date 10:15-16:00 (HG G 26.5)
  • 14.02 Date 10:15-14:00 (HG G 26.5)
28 h semesterly

Offered In

  • Wissenschaft im Kontext (Science in Perspective) (In Kursen aus dem Programm “Wissenschaft im Kontext” lernen Studierende, die MINT Fächer der ETH aus der Perspektive der Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften zu reflektieren. Nur die in diesem Abschnitt aufgelisteten Fächer können als "Wissenschaft im Kontext" angerechnet werden.)