SAN217 Culture and Mind: Cognitive Anthropology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. Mgr. Martin Kanovský, PhD. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Martin Kanovský, PhD.
Division of Social Anthropology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 10:00–11:40 U35
Prerequisites
Only elementary knowledge of anthropology is required, and the ability to read in English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course presents some of the main themes of contemporary cognitive anthropology and various ways how to use an interdisciplinary co-operation of cognitive science and anthropology. We will not focus on extensive surveys, but rather on detailed analysis of particular topics.
Main goals of the course are:
- to introduce in a very detailed way some of research strategies of contemporary cognitive anthropology;
- to show research methods which are particularly apt and successful in sheding light on muliple relations between human cognition and cultural phenomena;
- to contribute to understanding of explanatory models and research techniques of cognitive anthropology in such a way as to be able to formulate a draft of research project in cognitive anthropology.
Syllabus
  • (1) Introductory Session
  • (2) Anthropology and Representation 1: What is Cognitive Mind?
  • (3) Anthropology and Representation 2: Culture and Cognitive Mind
  • (4) Childhood as a Crucial Period of Acquisition of Cultural Knowledge
  • (5) Intuitive Theories in General, their Cognitive and Cultural Conditions
  • (6) Intuitive Biology 1: How is Knowledge on Living Beings Acquired in Various Cultures?
  • (7) Intuitive Biology 2: Structure of Intuitive Biological Knowledge
  • (8) Cognitive Foundations of Religion 1: Spreading of Super-Natural Representations
  • (9) Cognitive Foundations of Religion 2: Rituals and Solidarity
  • (10) Intuitive Sociology 1: Representing Social Groups
  • (11) Intuitive Sociology 2: Ethnicity, Race, and Politics
  • (12) Closing Debate
Literature
  • WHITEHOUSE, Harvey. Modes of religiosity : a cognitive theory of religious transmission. Walnut Creek: Altamira, 2004, xiii, 193. ISBN 9780759106154. info
  • Ritual and memory : toward a comparative anthropology of religion. Edited by Harvey Whitehouse - James Laidlaw. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press, 2004, ix, 219. ISBN 0759106177. info
  • BOYER, Pascal. Religion explained : the evolutionary origins of religious thought. New York: Basic Books, 2001, vii, 375. ISBN 0465006957. info
  • Folkbiology. Edited by Douglas L. Medin - Scott Atran. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1999, ix, 504. ISBN 026263192X. info
  • SPERBER, Dan. Explaining culture :a naturalistic approach. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996, vii, 175 s. ISBN 0-631-20045-2. info
Assessment methods
lectures, class discussions, 3 short texts (precis) during the term, final concise essay, oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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