260026 Philosophie der Neurowissenschaften / Philosophy of Neuroscience (GradS) (SoSe 2026)

Contents, comment

The human brain is often said to be the most complex object in the known universe. How do neuroscientists find order within this daz-zling complexity? How do they experiments or models help us describe brain structure and function? When do they succeed to explain cognitive functions? Are cognitive concepts even adequate to understand the brain? And how do technological and societal developments, such AI and network societies shape our scientific image of the brain? The seminar discusses these and other questions by read-ing classic and current texts from philosophy of neuroscience, including current research of the instructor on brain metabolism and cognition.

DIES IST EIN FACHWISSENSCHAFTLICHES MASTER-SEMINAR.
An diesem Seminar können insgesamt maximal 10 Bachelor-Studierende teilnehmen. Für alle Studierenden, die regulär in einem Master Philosophie eingeschrieben sind, gilt keine Teilnehmendenbegrenzung.
Diese Veranstaltung ist konzipiert für Masterstudierende im Fach Philosophie. Andere Studierende der Philosophie können nur teilnehmen, wenn sie das Anmeldeverfahren durchlaufen und eine Zusage der Lehrperson bekommen haben. Zur Anmeldung senden Sie der Lehrperson eine E-Mail mit Angabe Ihres Namens, des Fachsemesters, in dem Sie sein werden, und mit einer Begründung, warum Sie an diesem Seminar teilnehmen wollen. Sie erhalten rechtzeitig Bescheid, ob Sie an der Veranstaltung teilnehmen dürfen.

Dieser Kurs wird zwar auf Englisch angeboten, Beiträge in deutscher Sprache sind aber ebenfalls möglich, da die Lehrperson Deutsch versteht.

Requirements for participation, required level

Participants should have taken at least one class in philosophy of science, preferably on philosophy of biology, cognitive science or psychology. Knowledge about neuroscience and its philosophy is welcome, but not necessary.

Bibliography

Selected references:

Chirimuuta, Mazviita (2024). The Brain Abstracted. Simplification and Idealization in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience. Cambridge: MIT Press
Krakauer, John W., Ghazanfar, A. A., Gomez-Marin, A., MacIver, M. A., & Poeppel, D. (2017). Neuroscience Needs Behavior: Correcting a Reductionist Bias. Neuron, 93(3), 480–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.12.041
Malinowska, Joanna K. (2016). Cultural neuroscience and the category of race: The case of the other-race effect. Synthese, 193(12), 3865–3887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-016-1108-y
MacGuire, Mara (2025). Thinking about Neuron Doctrines. Philosophy of Science DOI: 10.1017/psa.2025.10133

Teaching staff

Herr Dr. Philipp Haueis

Dates ( Calendar view )

Frequency	Weekday	Time	Format / Place	Period
weekly	Di	14-16		14.04.-24.07.2026

Subject assignments

Module	Course	Requirements
26-HEPS-HM3 Main Module 3: Methods in science Hauptmodul 3: Methoden in der Wissenschaft	Methoden in der Wissenschaft I	Study requirement	Student information
	Methoden in der Wissenschaft II	Graded examination	Student information
26-HM_TP1_WP Main Module TP1: Philosophy of Science Hauptmodul TP1: Wissenschaftsphilosophie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-HM_TP5_ET Main Module TP5: Epistemology Hauptmodul TP5: Erkenntnistheorie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-HM_TP6_PG Main Module TP6: Philosophy of Mind Hauptmodul TP6: Philosophie des Geistes	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-HM_TP_Satellit Satellite Module Theoretical Philosophy Satellitenmodul Theoretische Philosophie	Seminar aus der Theoretischen Philosophie	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-M-EW Add-on Module Erweiterungsmodul	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 3	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-M-PF Profile Development Module Profilierungsmodul	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-M-PJ Project Module Projektmodul	Seminar	Study requirement	Student information
26-M-TP_GR_a Basics Theoretical Philosophy Grundlagenmodul Theoretische Philosophie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-M-TP_VE_a Specialization Module Theoretical Philosophy Vertiefungsmodul Theoretische Philosophie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-M-TP_VO Presentation Module Theoretical Philosophy Vortragsmodul Theoretische Philosophie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
26-M-VO Presentation Module Vortragsmodul	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
26-M-VO Presentation Module Vortragsmodul	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
26-VT_PDG Specialization Philosophy of Mind Vertiefung Philosophie des Geistes	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information
26-VT_WP Specialization Philosophy of Science Vertiefung Wissenschaftsphilosophie	Seminar 1	Study requirement	Student information
	Seminar 2	Study requirement	Student information
	-	Graded examination	Student information

The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.

No more requirements

No eLearning offering available

Address:: SS2026_260026@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de; This address can be used by teaching staff, their secretary's offices as well as the individuals in charge of course data maintenance to send emails to the course participants. IMPORTANT: All sent emails must be activated. Wait for the activation email and follow the instructions given there.; If the reference number is used for several courses in the course of the semester, use the following alternative address to reach the participants of exactly this: VST_645443496@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de
Notes:: Additional notes on the electronic mailing lists

Last update basic details/teaching staff:: Friday, December 12, 2025
Last update times:: Friday, January 16, 2026
Last update rooms:: Friday, January 16, 2026

Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester): graduate seminar (GradS) /
Language: This lecture is taught in english
Department: Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology / Department of Philosophy
Questions or corrections?: Questions or correction requests for this course?
Planning support: Clashing dates for this course
Links to this course: If you want to set links to this course page, please use one of the following links. Do not use the link shown in your browser!; The following link includes the course ID and is always unique:; https://ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de/kvv_publ/publ/vd?id=645443496
Send page to mobile: Click to open QR code
Scan QR code:
ID: 645443496

Quick links

260026 Philosophie der Neurowissenschaften / Philosophy of Neuroscience (GradS) (SoSe 2026)

Contents, comment

Requirements for participation, required level

Bibliography

Teaching staff

Dates ( Calendar view )

Subject assignments

Requirement concretion

eLearning

Automatic electronic mailing list for the course

Changes to/updates of the course details

Others