For Book Cognition #6, we will read and discuss Andy Clark’s Mindware, one of the most widely referenced and classic introductory texts in cognitive science. We will meet online for four weeks on October 29, November 5, 12, and 19, every Wednesday evening from 20:00 to 22:00.
“Mindware” is not merely an introduction to cognitive science — it is a comprehensive exploration of the many ways we can understand the mind, tracing the history of cognitive models and the intersections of contemporary debates. Andy Clark brings together diverse approaches such as artificial intelligence, connectionism, embodied cognition, and dynamic systems theory, offering an integrative view of the field. He reveals how different paradigms about the nature and functioning of the mind have emerged and often come into conflict. Bridging philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience, the book invites everyone interested in cognitive science to engage with this rich and far-reaching intellectual journey.
The moderator of this book club will be Yunus Şahin, a Boğaziçi University Cognitive Science master’s program graduate who is currently continuing his studies in the Semiotics program at the University of Tartu and is also the co-founder of CogIST. Throughout the sessions, participants will be expected to complete approximately 60–70 pages of reading each week, after which the group will engage in discussions evaluating the material through the lenses of theoretical frameworks, contemporary cognitive perspectives, and philosophy of science.
Week 1 (October 29):
- Introduction: (Not) Like a Rock
- Chapter 1: Meat Machines: Mindware as Software
- Chapter 2: Symbol Systems
- Chapter 3: Patterns, Contents and Causes
Week 2 (November 5):
- Chapter 4: Connectionism
- Chapter 5: Perception, Action and the Brain
- Chapter 6: Robots and Artificial Life
Week 3 (November 12):
- Chapter 7: Dynamics
- Chapter 8: Cognitive Technology
- Chapter 9: Extended Minds?
Week 4 (November 19):
- Chapter 10: Enacting Perceptual Experience
- Chapter 11: Prediction Machines
- Chapter 12: (Not Really a) Conclusion
Book Cognition aims to create a discussion space where students, researchers, and enthusiasts from outside the field who are interested in cognitive science can come together around a single book and theme, engaging in intellectual exchange and collective study over several weeks. In this sense, each Kitap Kognisyon event can be thought of as a book club focused on one book. For every session, we will choose a book and hold weekly meetings moderated by a facilitator. These events will be held online on a designated day each week, and we hope they will provide a rewarding and stimulating experience for all participants. Each Book Cognition will span several weeks, during which participants will meet at a fixed time every week to discuss the book in depth.
Participants are expected to read the assigned chapters before each session.
The participation fee for this event is 650 TL (VAT included) per person. Payment details will be shared via e-mail with participants who complete the registration form.
