Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Psychology, Technology and Consciousness: Keys to Understand the Actual World
Other languages of instruction: Catalan
Teaching staff
There is not an official schedule for office hours, but students can contact the instructor (Gabriel Fernandez Borsot, gabi@uic.es) through email to set an appointment.
Introduction
Psychology, which studies an essential dimension of the human being, often involves questions from the field of Philosophical Anthropology. Among these issues, some are especially topical in 21st century society. Here, five are selected for study because of their relevance to the psychologist. Firstly, technology as a human phenomenon, and its profound psychological and sociological implications. Secondly, the challenge of sustainability and its psychosocial implications. Thirdly the relationship between mind and brain, the implications of which go beyond those raised by psychology and neuroscience, to directly affect the conception of human nature. Fourthly, the contemporary debates on the possibility of building conscious machines, which require a reflection on the nature of consciousness and its role in human beings. And, fifth, the debates on the relationship between the notion of free will and the discoveries of neuroscience.
Pre-course requirements
None.
Objectives
- To understand the keys to understanding technology as a human phenomenon with anthropological, psychological and sociological implications, including the challenge of sustainability.
- To understand the main theories and paradigms in the approach to the mind-brain problem, as well as its anthropological and philosophical implications.
- To understand the conceptual keys of contemporary speculations about the possibility of building conscious machines, as well as their anthropological and philosophical implications.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - At the end of the Degree, the student will be able to describe psychological knowledge and developments in professional practice.
- CP08 - At the end of the Degree, the student will be able to identify inequalities between men and women and their main effects in the workplace and psychosocial sphere, reducing discrimination and/or exclusions for reasons of gender.
- HB01 - At the end of the Degree the student will be able to reasonably justify decisions made through relevant and reflective data on issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
- HB11 - At the end of the Degree the student will be able to confirm the social and anthropological aspects of human beings, the complexity of multicultural diversity and historical and sociocultural variables that exist in the configuration of the human psyche and interpersonal relations.
- HB12 - At the end of the Degree the student will be able to synthesise their assessments and psychological arguments critically, ethically and with the vocabulary of psychological knowledge.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completing this course, the student:
- Knows the philosophical and anthropological foundations of the dignity of the human person and knows how to apply them to specific cases in their professional practice.
- Understands the fundamental structure of the person.
- Reflects critically on nature and the human condition.
- Reflects on current issues related to the mind and artificial intelligence.
Syllabus
Lesson 1: The Challenge of Sustainability.
Lesson 2: Psychology and Technology.
Lesson 3: On Consciousness, Machines, and People.
Lesson 4: Neuroscience and Freedom.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The following learning activities will be used:
- Lecture (CM)
- Critical Reading (LC)
- Exercise and Problem Solving (REP)
- Project-Based Learning (AOP)
The following methodologies will be used:
- Theoretical Class (CT)
- Practical Class (CP)
- Group Work (TG)
- Autonomous Learning (AA)
- Debate and Discussion (D&D)
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The final grade for the course is calculated by weighting each of the three assessable activities with the following percentages:
- Continuous assessment mark: 10%
- Group work: 40%
- Final exam: 50%
Important remarks about the evaluation system:
A. In the second examination sitting, an “Honours” mark cannot be obtained, therefore the maximum mark will be “Excellent”.
B. The detection of plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating (such as the use of texts made with artificial intelligence) will result in a zero in the involved evaluation section, for all the involved students. If this detection concerns an exam, it will directly result in immediate failure of the course.
C. No changes in the calendar, exam dates or the assessment system are permitted.
D. Students retaking the course must undertake all the activities.
E. Foreign and exchange students (Erasmus and others) as well as students retaking the course will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the student body. This is especially relevant with regard to the calendar, exam dates and the assessment system.
Bibliography and resources
Primary bibliography
Albareda Tiana, S. (2015). Reconciliarse con el planeta: La sostenibilidad como nuevo paradigma. EUNSA.
Arana, J. (2015). La conciencia inexplicada: Ensayo sobre los límites de la comprensión naturalista de la mente. Biblioteca Nueva.Arias, A. (2021). Introducción a la ciencia de la conciencia: El estudio de la experiencia subjetiva en filosofía, psicología y neurociencias. Catarata.
Corcó, J. (2017). La neuroética como ética fundamental. Pensamiento, 73(276), 569–573.
Cortina, A. (2017). Humanismo avanzado para una sociedad biotecnológica. Teconté.
Esquirol, J.M. (2012). Los filósofos contemporáneos y la técnica: De Ortega a Sloterdijk. Gedisa.
Mele, A. R. (2014). Free: Why science hasn't disproved free will. Oxford University Press.
Complementary bibliography
Beauregard, M. (2012). Brain wars: The scientific battle over the existence of the mind and the proof that will change the way we live our lives. HarperCollins.
Eccles, J. (1994). How the SELF Controls Its BRAIN. Springer-Verlag.
Goldstein-Rose, S. (2020). The 100% solution: A plan for solving climate change. Melville House.
Kelly, E. F., Crabtree, A., & Marshall, P. (Eds.) (2015). Beyond physicalism: Toward reconciliation of science and spirituality. Rowan & Littlefield.
Kelly, E. F., Kelly, E. W., Crabtree, A., Gauld, A., Grosso, M., & Greyson, B. (2007). Irreducible mind: Toward a psychology for the 21 st century. Rowan & Littlefield.
Lancaster, B. L. (2004). Approaches to consciousness: The marriage of science and mysticism. Palgrave McMillan.
Nogués, R. M. (2011). Cervell i transcendència. Fragmenta Editorial.
Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age. Penguin Books.
Ulric Tse, P. (2013). The neural basis of free will: Criterial causation. The MIT Press.
Evaluation period
- E1 29/05/2026 A21 08:00h