We will learn about the history of brain sciences from antiquity to modern days and highlight the major empirical, technological and theoretical discoveries that advanced our understanding of the brain, at various levels of organization (structural-anatomical, functional, cellular, etc.). Next, we will focus on some of the major philosophical issues in present-day neuroscience, such as the reduction-integration problem and the question of what constitutes a genuine scientific explanation in neuroscience. The final part of the course will be dedicated to Neuroethics. Neuroethics addresses the ethical implications of what neuroscience can do (for example, “reading minds” or altering one’s brain-activity), and the ethical problems raised by our increasing understanding of the neural basis of behavior – an understanding that challenges concepts such as free-will and responsibility.

The course is based on the following text-books:

• Bickle, J. (Ed.). (2009). The Oxford handbook of philosophy and neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
• Farah, M. (2010). Neuroethics: An Introduction with Readings. MIT Press.
• Wickens, A. P. (2014). A history of the brain: from stone age surgery to modern neuroscience. Psychology Press.

The requirements are mandatory reading (usually one book chapter prior to each class), and attendance.