Honoursmodule: The Neuro Society

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

The tremendous progress of neuroscience in the past two decades is re-shaping how we view ourselves. Promises include improved ability to predict and influence people's views and choices, as well as brain modification techniques to treat mental disorders, reduce criminal behavior and improve our ability to think, learn, and remember.

In this honours course we will explore how these scientific developments might impact ourselves and our (future) society. Do we have to eliminate concepts such as blame and accountability from criminal law? Do we want early treatment of children with ‘ADHD-brains’? Are we allowed to scan the brains of defendants to assess whether they lie during interrogation?

By taking different perspectives (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences), we will study and discuss various current ethical, legal and social issues resulting from neuroscientific findings, including enhancement, brain reading, criminal responsibility, personhood, media representations and the commercial use of neuroscience.

Study materials

Literature

• Book: Farah, M. (2010). Neuroethics: An Introduction with Readings. MIT Press.

• Additional literature via Canvas

Objectives

• take different perspectives (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences) with respect to neuroscientific findings
• demonstrate knowledge of the main issues in neuroethics
• critically reflect on neuroscientific findings and their relevance for society
• analyze own and others' values with respect to neuroethical issues
• express clearly (talk and write) his/her own informed arguments and views about these issues

Teaching methods

• Seminar
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

For seminars there is a strict attendance rule, in accordance with the FNWI OER: During the whole course you may miss max. 2 seminars. Please always inform your teacher via email before the seminar in case you can not attend.

Assessment

This course includes four examination components:

1. Group presentation (20%)

Together with 2 fellow students, you will give an oral presentation and moderate the discussion afterwards. More details will be provided in the first seminar and via Canvas. The presentation and moderation of the discussion will be graded (1-10) and this grade will count for 20% towards the course grade. There is no resit option for the presentation. The consequence of missing the presentation is a 1. Written feedback will be provided via email within one week after the presentation.

2. Essay 1: Neuroethics in popular media (30%)

You will write a small essay (1000 words) in which you discuss a literary work or film related to neuroscience or neurotechnology and relate it to the literature that we have discussed in the seminars. More details will be provided in the first seminar and via Canvas. The essay will be graded (1-10) and this grade will count for 30% towards the course grade. The consequence of missing the deadline is a 1. Together with the grade, very brief written feedback will be provided.

3. Essay 2: Final essay including case study in society (50%)

For your final essay (2000-3000 words) you will argue for a self-selected topic related to (at least) one of the course themes. In addition, you will carry out a small quantitative or qualitative study in society which you include in your essay. More details will be provided in the first seminar and via Canvas. The essay will be graded (1-10) and this grade will count for 50% towards the course grade. The consequence of missing the deadline is a 1. There will be an opportunity for combined peer-review and lecturer feedback on the essay outline during one of the seminars. Together with the grade, written feedback will be provided.

4. Class preparation + participation (P/F)

You are expected to read the literature before the seminar and contribute to the discussion via Canvas as well as during the seminar. Your overall impression during the course will be graded with pass/fail.

The weighted average of the grades for the first three components will result in your course grade. In case the total course grade is <5,5, the possibilities for a resit will be discussed with you.

Students that were enrolled in the course in previous years

Please contact the course coordinator.

Inspection of assessed work

On an individual base, students can make an appointment with the lecturer via email.

Assignments

See 'Assessment'

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Not applicable

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Jolien Francken