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Instructor
Randolph Blake Teaching Assistant Eunice Yang |
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This course provides a general introduction to contemporary theory and research in perception, including an analysis of philosophical and biological issues. We learn how biological organisms acquire, process and utilize information about objects and events in the environment. Perception is an area of psychology where the links to neuroscience are among the strongest. Thus, a recurring theme in the course is the relation between brain events and perceptual events, with solid grounding in sensory neurophysiology. All the senses - vision, audition, taste, smell and touch - are covered. Besides its grounding in neurobiology, perception inevitably entails discussion of philosophical issues, including epistemology (the branch of philosophy concerned with the origins of knowledge) and the mind/body problem. Throughout the semester, students are asked to think about the representational nature of knowledge and about naive realism (the view that our perceptions provide an objective "picture" of reality). In addition, the course seeks to establish links between principles of perception and developments within the visual arts, music and literature. Lectures are supplemented with demonstrations and exercises. Students are encouraged to utilize the services of the Tutoring Center to help with exam preparation and written homework assignments. |
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THIS COURSE
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler (Albert Einstein) Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly (Gypsy Rose Lee) The more the teacher teaches, the less the student learns (anonymous) |
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If you need course accomodations due to a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible.
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