Aktuálna revízia z 14:22, 18. február 2024

Cognitive Anthropology 2-IKV-195-23

The course aims to provide students an introductory understanding of cognitive anthropology, its methods, and its relevance in fields of Cognitive science. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and case studies, students will gain insights into the researched processes that shape human cultures and societies. The course is designed to provide students with systematic knowledge in the field of cognitive anthropology. It focuses on the historical development of tools and methods, key theories, and methodological approaches relevant to the discipline. Students will engage with the interdisciplinary relationships of cognitive anthropology with other scientific fields such as psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience.

Course schedule

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Anthropology Definition and scope of Anthropology, Brief history of Anthropology, Main branches of Anthropology, Introduction to Cognitive Anthropology
2. Evolution of Anthropological Methods Early anthropological methods, Participant observation and ethnography, Structured and unstructured Interviews.
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Anthropology Differences in the use of quantitative and qualitative methods, Statistical analysis in Anthropology, Case studies and narrative analysis.
4. Contemporary Anthropological Methods Use of technical tools in anthropological research, Digital ethnography and online research methods, Visual Anthropology.
5. Ethical Aspects in Anthropological Research Credibility and transparency in research, Ethical dilemmas in fieldwork, The role of the anthropologist: objectivity and engagement.
6. The Future of Anthropological Methods Interdisciplinary approaches in Anthropology, The role of big data in anthropological research.
7. Differences in Cognitive Anthropology Definition and scope of Cognitive Anthropology, Brief history and reasons for development, Key concepts in Cognitive Anthropology.
8. Culture and Cognition The concept of culture in Cognitive Anthropology, the influence of culture on cognition, Case studies of differences between cultures (innate and learned).
9. Language and Cognition The relationship between language and thought, Linguistic relativity and determinism, The role of language in shaping social cognition.
10. Cognitive Anthropology and Theories of Evolution The evolution of human cognition, Cognitive adaptations and human evolution, The role of culture in human evolution, Dual inheritance theory.
11. Cognitive Anthropology and Technology Culture and technology, Technology as an independent component of culture influencing human development.
12. The Future of Cognitive Approaches to the Study of Cultures Beyond relativism - new trends in Cognitive Anthropology, Cognitive Anthropology and artificial intelligence, Interdisciplinary approaches in Cognitive Anthropology.

Supplemental reading and references (used by lecturer for preparation)

• Atran, S. (1993) Cognitive Foundations of Natural History: Towards an Anthropology of Science, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• D'Andrade, R. (1995) The Development of Cognitive Anthropology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Bloch, M. (2012) Anthropology and the Cognitive Challenge, London School of Economics, London
• Jebelli, J. (2022) How the Mind Changed: A Human History of Our Evolving Brain, Little, Brown Spark
• Dengah, F., Snodgrass, J., Polzer, E., Nixon, W., (2020) Systematic Methods for Analyzing Culture: A Practical Guide, Routledge.
• Stainton, R. J. (2005) Contemporary debates in Cognitive Science. Oxford, Blackwell,

Course grading

Semester evaluation - weekly activities (30%)

Final evaluation - presentation of essay or project (70%)