The module is co-ordinated by Dr Maxwell Roberts, to whom queries should be addressed.
The aim of this module is to investigate the various theories intended to account for intelligent behaviour in humans, animals and machines. The approach will be multidisciplinary, will look for common themes and compare different perspectives.
The first two lectures will briefly survey human intelligent behaviour in the form of the cognitive processes proposed for reasoning, solving problems, and making judgements, along with theories of individual differences in human intelligence from the perspective of cognitive psychology: why are some people better than reasoning and problem solving than others?
The next four lectures will investigate attemps to make computers behave in intelligent ways. Knowledge of this field is relevant to cognitive psychology because the research highlights just how much we take for granted about human cognition. No knowledge of computer programming will be necessary. We will look at the underlying theories and assumptions of this field and examples of the most well known programs. Reasons for their failure will be discussed along with a survey of new directions and their prospects.
The final four lectures will look at attempts to understand animal intelligence and see whether parallels can be drawn with humans. We will look at animal learning in the laboratory, problem solving, tool use, communication, theory of mind and deception. By seeing how animal species differ from each other and humans we will be in a better position to understand our own intelligence and program computers mor effectively.
The aim of this module is to investigate the various theories intended to account for intelligent behaviour in humans, animals and machines. The approach will be multidisciplinary, will look for common themes and compare different perspectives.
The first two lectures will briefly survey human intelligent behaviour in the form of the cognitive processes proposed for reasoning, solving problems, and making judgements, along with theories of individual differences in human intelligence from the perspective of cognitive psychology: why are some people better than reasoning and problem solving than others?
The next four lectures will investigate attemps to make computers behave in intelligent ways. Knowledge of this field is relevant to cognitive psychology because the research highlights just how much we take for granted about human cognition. No knowledge of computer programming will be necessary. We will look at the underlying theories and assumptions of this field and examples of the most well known programs. Reasons for their failure will be discussed along with a survey of new directions and their prospects.
The final four lectures will look at attempts to understand animal intelligence and see whether parallels can be drawn with humans. We will look at animal learning in the laboratory, problem solving, tool use, communication, theory of mind and deception. By seeing how animal species differ from each other and humans we will be in a better position to understand our own intelligence and program computers mor effectively.
- Module Supervisor: Maxwell Roberts