SES/PL169--Topics
in the Philosophy of Psychology:
The
Nature of Intelligence
Instructor:
Steven Quartz
Email:
steve@hss.caltech.edu
Course
Description. In this course, we investigate the nature of intelligence by
drawing on the perspectives of psychometrics, behavioral genetics, cognitive
psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. The course begins with an investigation
of IQ, factory analysis, and the debate regarding IQ's adequacy as a scientific
theory. We then explore recent work in the biology of cognition and consider its
implications both for this debate and for a scientific understanding of human
intelligence.
Course
Texts:
IQ and Human Intelligence (Mackintosh)
Handbook of Intelligence (Sternberg)
Course Requirements: Weekly 100-word summary of readings and discussion point, midterm paper (2,000 words, due Feb 8), final paper (2,000 words). The class will be conducted as a seminar, so class participation is expected.
Schedule/Readings
Week
1 Jan
4 Introduction
Week 2 Jan 11 Theories of Intelligence
Chapter 1, 2, 3, 26 Sternberg
Chapter 1 Mackintosh
Week 3 Jan 18 IQ
Chapter 2 Mackintosh
Chapter 20 Sternberg
Week 4 Jan 25 IQ and Factor Analysis
Chapter 6 Mackintosh
Chapter 19, 21 Sternberg
Week 5 Feb 1 Cognitive Operations and IQ
Chapter 8,9 Mackintosh
Chapter 14 Sternberg
Week 6 Feb 8 The Brain, Evolution, and Intelligence
Chapter 11, 12 Sternberg
Week 7 Feb 15 Cognitive Neuroscience and Intelligence
numerical cognition handout
Chapter 10 Mackintosh
Week 8 Feb 22 Genes and Intelligence
Chapter 3 Mackintosh
Chapter 4 Sternberg
Doogie handout
Week 9 Mar 1 NO CLASS
Week 10 Mar 8 Environmental Effects on Intelligence
Chapter 7 Sternberg