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"_readme": "Source of truth for www.makingminds.org. index.html renders from this file (assets/site.js); so does the readings reader at reader/ (reader/reader.js). Dates are ISO (YYYY-MM-DD); times are 24h; week numbers and weekday labels are computed. Reading entries: {mm: chapter} for course-book chapters, or {tag, cite, url, linkText, note} where cite/note may contain …; {html} for anything irregular; optional label (e.g. 'Of interest:'). Outside readings: optional id (stable key, e.g. 'turing-1950'), file (a PDF on this site, shown in reader/) and filePage (page of that file to open at). An excerpt may carry full: {url, text} — the full text it is taken from (a PDF on this site or an outside URL); the Reader shows it as a button beside Download. Resources (the Reader's Background texts) may carry cover: an image (e.g. reader/thumbs/.jpg, ~240px wide) shown on the Reader's landing shelf.",
"course": {
"code": "Phil 133",
"title": "Making Minds",
"subtitle": "A Constructive Introduction to the Computational Theory of Mind",
"term": "Fall 2026",
"institution": "UCLA",
"timezone": "America/Los_Angeles",
"instructor": {
"name": "Gabriel Greenberg",
"title": "Professor",
"officeHours": "Tue 2–3pm, Dodd 331",
"email": "ggreenberg@humnet.ucla.edu"
},
"ta": {
"name": "Paul Talma",
"officeHours": "Wed 11am–1pm, Dodd 394",
"email": "ptalma@humnet.ucla.edu"
},
"lecture": {
"days": "Tue & Thu",
"time": "12:30–1:45pm",
"start": "12:30",
"end": "13:45",
"room": "Public Affairs 1222"
},
"sections": {
"day": "Wed",
"room": "Rolfe 3126",
"list": [
{
"id": "1A",
"time": "9:00–9:50am",
"classNumber": "312-522-201"
},
{
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"time": "10:00–10:50am",
"classNumber": "312-522-202"
}
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"title": "Making Minds",
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"note": ""
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"reader": "reader/"
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"app": {
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"url": "https://making-minds.pages.dev"
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"homework": {
"count": 6,
"dueTime": "23:59",
"dueLabel": "11:59pm",
"summary": "Due Sundays 11:59pm (HW6 on Fri 12/4)"
},
"calendar": {
"weekOneMonday": "2026-09-28",
"instructionStart": "2026-09-24",
"instructionEnd": "2026-12-04",
"finalsWeek": "12/7–11"
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83,
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80,
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77,
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73,
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70,
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67,
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63,
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60,
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"units": [
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"n": 1,
"name": "Computation"
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{
"n": 2,
"name": "Levels"
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{
"n": 3,
"name": "Cognition"
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"schedule": [
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-09-24",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "The Cognition–Body Problem",
"read": [
{
"mm": "The Cognition-Body Problem",
"n": 1,
"page": 6
},
{
"html": "Syllabus (this page) and Course Policies"
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Descartes (1637) Discourse on the Method, Part V —",
"id": "descartes-1637",
"file": "reader/files/descartes-1637-limits-of-automata.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/descartes-1637-limits-of-automata.pdf",
"linkText": "the automaton passage",
"note": "(Haldane & Ross trans., pp. 115–116: from “And this will not seem strange…” to “…as our reason causes us to act”)",
"short": "Descartes (1637), Discourse on the Method, excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/philosophicalwor01desc/page/115",
"text": "full text (Haldane & Ross, 1911)"
}
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Leibniz (1714) The Monadology,",
"id": "leibniz-1714",
"file": "reader/files/leibniz-1714-windmill.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/leibniz-1714-windmill.pdf",
"linkText": "§17: the mill argument",
"note": "(Latta trans., pp. 227–229)",
"short": "Leibniz (1714), The Monadology, §17",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/themonadology00leibuoft/page/227",
"text": "full text (Latta, 1898)"
}
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-09-29",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "Logic Gates & Combinatorial Circuits",
"read": [
{
"mm": "What is a Computer?",
"n": 2,
"page": 10
},
{
"mm": "Logic Gates & Combinatorial Circuits",
"n": 3,
"page": 14
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Hillis (1999) The Pattern on the Stone,",
"id": "hillis-1999-ch1-2",
"file": "reader/files/hillis-1999-preface-ch1-2.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/hillis-1999-preface-ch1-2.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Preface: Magic in the Stone,\" Ch. 1: \"Nuts and Bolts,\" Ch. 2: \"Universal Building Blocks\"",
"note": "(through p. 30)",
"short": "Hillis (1999), “Magic in the Stone,” “Nuts and Bolts,” and “Universal Building Blocks”",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/patternonstone0000unse",
"text": "full book, borrowable"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "T*",
"cite": "U.S. Navy, Bureau of Ordnance (1944) Basic Fire Control Mechanisms (Ordnance Pamphlet 1140),",
"id": "navy-1944",
"file": "reader/files/navy-1944-fire-control-mechanisms.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/navy-1944-fire-control-mechanisms.pdf",
"linkText": "Section 1: “Basic Information” and Section 2: “Mechanical Units”",
"note": "(pp. 1–168) — a wartime Navy training manual on the mechanisms inside gear-driven fire-control computers; the differential (pp. 38–45) is a good place to start",
"short": "U.S. Navy (1944), Basic Fire Control Mechanisms, excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/op1140_202408",
"text": "full manual"
}
},
{
"tag": "T*",
"cite": "U.S. Navy (1953) Basic Mechanisms in Fire Control Computers,",
"id": "navy-1953-film",
"links": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4",
"text": "Part 1"
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4&t=1144s",
"text": "Part 2"
}
],
"note": "[training film, 42 min; Part 1: shafts, gears, cams, and differentials; Part 2: component solvers, integrators, and multipliers]",
"short": "U.S. Navy (1953), Basic Mechanisms in Fire Control Computers, Parts 1 and 2, video"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Edelman (2008) Computing the Mind,",
"id": "edelman-2008",
"file": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/edelman_2008__22computing_the_mind_23.pdf",
"filePage": 52,
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/edelman_2008__22computing_the_mind_23.pdf",
"linkText": "Ch. 3: \"Computing Brains\"",
"note": "pp. 37–44, 50–58",
"short": "Edelman (2008), “Computing Brains,” excerpts"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-01",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "Functions & Representations",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Functions",
"n": 4,
"page": 19
},
{
"mm": "Systems of Representation",
"n": 5,
"page": 24
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Petzold (2000) Code,",
"id": "petzold-2000-ch7-8",
"file": "reader/files/petzold-2000-ch7-8.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/petzold-2000-ch7-8.pdf",
"linkText": "Ch. 7: \"Our Ten Digits\" and Ch. 8: \"Alternatives to Ten\"",
"short": "Petzold (2000), “Our Ten Digits” and “Alternatives to Ten”"
},
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Redwoods Department of Mathematics (2007)",
"id": "redwoods-2007",
"file": "reader/files/redwoods-2007-functions.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/redwoods-2007-functions.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Introduction to Functions\"",
"short": "Redwoods Dept. of Mathematics (2007), “Introduction to Functions”"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Edelman (2008) Computing the Mind,",
"id": "edelman-2008",
"file": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/edelman_2008__22computing_the_mind_23.pdf",
"filePage": 28,
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/edelman_2008__22computing_the_mind_23.pdf",
"linkText": "Ch. 2: \"Computing Minds\"",
"note": "pp. 13–25",
"short": "Edelman (2008), “Computing Minds,” excerpt"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Gallistel and King (2009) Memory and the Computational Brain, Ch. 3: \"Functions\"",
"short": "Gallistel and King (2009), “Functions”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-10-04",
"n": 1,
"title": "Basics: Circuits, Functions, and Representations",
"covers": "9/24–10/1",
"url": "https://making-minds.pages.dev/#/a/hw1"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-06",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "Computation with Combinatorial Circuits (CCs)",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Defining Computation",
"n": 6,
"page": 30
},
{
"mm": "Computation as a 3-way Relation",
"n": 7,
"page": 37
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Haugeland (1981) “Semantic Engines: An Introduction to Mind Design”",
"id": "haugeland-1981-excerpt",
"file": "reader/files/haugeland-1981-excerpt.pdf",
"note": "— §§I, VI, and VII (“Cognitive Science,” “Semantics,” “Interpretation and Truth”)",
"short": "Haugeland (1981), “Semantic Engines,” §§I, VI, and VII",
"full": {
"url": "reader/files/haugeland-1981.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Haugeland (1981) “Semantic Engines: An Introduction to Mind Design”",
"id": "haugeland-1981",
"file": "reader/files/haugeland-1981.pdf",
"note": "— the full paper",
"short": "Haugeland (1981), “Semantic Engines,” full paper"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Crane (2003) The Mechanical Mind, Ch. 3:",
"id": "crane-2003",
"file": "reader/files/crane-2003-ch3.pdf",
"filePage": 3,
"url": "reader/files/crane-2003-ch3.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Computers and Thought\"",
"note": "pp. 83–114 only (skim 92–99)",
"short": "Crane (2003), “Computers and Thought,” excerpts",
"full": {
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/crane_2003__22the_mechanical_mind_23.pdf",
"text": "full book"
}
},
{
"tag": "T*",
"cite": "Cummins (1991) Meaning and Mental Representations, Ch. 8:",
"id": "cummins-1991",
"file": "reader/files/cummins-1991-ch8.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/cummins-1991-ch8.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Interpretational Semantics\"",
"note": "(excerpt)",
"short": "Cummins (1991), “Interpretational Semantics,” excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/meaningmentalrep0000cumm",
"text": "full book, borrowable"
}
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-08",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "The Story of Binary +1 (CC)",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Functional Abstraction",
"n": 8,
"page": 38
},
{
"mm": "Function Composition",
"n": 9,
"page": 39
},
{
"mm": "The Story of Binary Successor",
"n": 10,
"page": 42
},
{
"mm": "Lessons from Binary Successor",
"n": 11,
"page": 45
},
{
"mm": "Real and Ideal Computers",
"n": 12,
"page": 46
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Petzold (2000) Code, Ch. 12:",
"id": "petzold-2000-ch12",
"file": "reader/files/petzold-2000-ch12.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/petzold-2000-ch12.pdf",
"linkText": "\"A Binary Adding Machine\"",
"short": "Petzold (2000), “A Binary Adding Machine”"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Dixon (2017)",
"url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/03/aristotle-computer/518697/",
"linkText": "\"How Aristotle created the computer\"",
"short": "Dixon (2017), “How Aristotle Created the Computer”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-13",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "Embodied Computation",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Introducing Turbots",
"n": 13,
"page": 47
},
{
"mm": "Thought as symbol processing",
"n": 14,
"page": 50
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Craik (1943) The Nature of Explanation, Ch. 5:",
"id": "craik-1943",
"file": "reader/files/craik-1943-ch5.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/craik-1943-ch5.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Hypothesis on the Nature of Thought\"",
"short": "Craik (1943), “Hypothesis on the Nature of Thought”",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/natureofexplanat0000crai",
"text": "full book (1952 printing), borrowable"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Pinker (1997) How the Mind Works, Ch. 2:",
"id": "pinker-1997",
"file": "reader/files/pinker-1997-ch2.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/pinker-1997-ch2.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Thinking Machines\"",
"note": "(excerpt)",
"short": "Pinker (1997), “Thinking Machines,” excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/pinker_1997__22how_the_mind_works_23.pdf",
"text": "full book"
}
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Lande (2019)",
"url": "https://aeon.co/essays/your-brain-probably-is-a-computer-whatever-that-means",
"linkText": "\"Do you compute?\"",
"note": "(written by a former student from this class!)",
"short": "Lande (2019), “Do You Compute?”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-15",
"unit": 1,
"topic": "The Computational Theory of Mind",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Artificial and Natural Computers",
"n": 15,
"page": 53
},
{
"mm": "The Computational Theory of Mind",
"n": 16,
"page": 57
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Pinker (1997) How the Mind Works, excerpts from Ch. 1, “Standard Equipment,” and Ch. 2, “Thinking Machines”",
"id": "pinker-1997-ctm",
"file": "reader/files/pinker-1997-ctm-excerpt.pdf",
"note": "— pp. 24–27 and 64–69",
"short": "Pinker (1997), “Standard Equipment” and “Thinking Machines,” excerpts",
"full": {
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/pinker_1997__22how_the_mind_works_23.pdf",
"text": "full book"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "McLaughlin (2004)",
"id": "mclaughlin-2004",
"file": "reader/files/mclaughlin-2004.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/mclaughlin-2004.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Computationalism, Connectionism, and the Philosophy of Mind\"",
"note": "— pages 135–141 only",
"short": "McLaughlin (2004), “Computationalism, Connectionism, and the Philosophy of Mind,” excerpt"
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Haugeland (1981) “Semantic Engines: An Introduction to Mind Design”",
"id": "haugeland-1981",
"file": "reader/files/haugeland-1981.pdf",
"note": "— the full paper",
"short": "Haugeland (1981), “Semantic Engines”"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Ravenscroft (2005) Philosophy of Mind, Ch. 6:",
"id": "ravenscroft-2005",
"file": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/ravenscroft_2005__22the_computational_theory_of_mind_23.pdf",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/ravenscroft_2005__22the_computational_theory_of_mind_23.pdf",
"linkText": "\"The Computational Theory of Mind\"",
"short": "Ravenscroft (2005), “The Computational Theory of Mind”",
"full": {
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/ravenscroft_2005__22philosophy_of_mind_23.pdf",
"text": "full book"
}
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Johnson-Laird (1988) \"How Should the Mind Be Studied?\" [PDF to come]",
"short": "Johnson-Laird (1988), “How Should the Mind Be Studied?”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-10-18",
"n": 2,
"title": "Computing with CCs",
"covers": "10/6–10/15"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-20",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "Memory and Sequential Circuits (SCs)",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Memory",
"n": 17,
"page": 63
},
{
"mm": "Physical Memory",
"n": 18,
"page": 64
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Braitenberg (1984) Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology,",
"id": "braitenberg-1984",
"file": "reader/files/braitenberg-vehicles-ch5.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/braitenberg-vehicles-ch5.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Vehicle 5: Logic\"",
"short": "Braitenberg (1984), “Vehicle 5: Logic”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-22",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "Computing in Time",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Machines in Time: Sequential Circuits",
"n": 19,
"page": 68
},
{
"mm": "Computing in Time",
"n": 20,
"page": 73
},
{
"tag": "T*",
"cite": "Moore (1956)",
"id": "moore-1956",
"file": "reader/files/moore-1956.pdf",
"url": "https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~cdm/resources/Moore1956-gedanken-experiments.pdf",
"linkText": "“Gedanken-Experiments on Sequential Machines”",
"note": "— §§1–5 (stop at §6)",
"short": "Moore (1956), “Gedanken-Experiments on Sequential Machines,” §§1–5"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Neso Academy (2015)",
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzV4l0_1MCQ",
"linkText": "\"Comparison between Combinational and Sequential Circuits\"",
"note": "[video]",
"short": "Neso Academy (2015), “Comparison between Combinational and Sequential Circuits,” video"
},
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Neso Academy (2015)",
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaN72s5WfOM",
"linkText": "\"Introduction to Sequential Circuits\"",
"note": "[video]",
"short": "Neso Academy (2015), “Introduction to Sequential Circuits,” video"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-10-25",
"n": 3,
"title": "Computing with SCs",
"covers": "10/20–10/22",
"note": "doubles as midterm prep"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-10-27",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "Circuits and States",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Computational Power",
"n": 21,
"page": 78
},
{
"mm": "The Method of State Analysis",
"n": 22,
"page": 83
}
]
},
{
"type": "exam",
"date": "2026-10-29",
"title": "Midterm",
"start": "12:30",
"end": "13:45",
"where": "in class",
"note": "Covers Unit 1 and sequential circuits, through Circuits and States (10/27)."
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-03",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "State Abstraction",
"read": [
{
"mm": "State Abstraction",
"n": 23,
"page": 88
},
{
"mm": "The Concept of Abstraction",
"n": 24,
"page": 93
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Putnam (1975) \"Philosophy and Our Mental Life\" —",
"id": "putnam-1975",
"file": "reader/files/putnam-1975-excerpt.pdf",
"links": [
{
"url": "reader/files/putnam-1975-excerpt.pdf",
"text": "excerpt"
},
{
"url": "reader/files/putnam-1975.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
],
"note": "(read for the peg-and-board argument about the explanatory utility of abstraction)",
"short": "Putnam (1975), “Philosophy and Our Mental Life,” excerpt"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Putnam (1967) \"The Nature of Mental States\" —",
"id": "putnam-1967",
"file": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/putnam_1967__22the_nature_of_mental_states_22__excerpt_.pdf",
"links": [
{
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/putnam_1967__22the_nature_of_mental_states_22__excerpt_.pdf",
"text": "excerpt"
},
{
"url": "reader/files/putnam-1967.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
],
"note": "(if you already read Putnam (1960) \"Minds and Machines\", that will work)",
"short": "Putnam (1967), “The Nature of Mental States,” excerpt"
},
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Patterson and Hennessy (2018)",
"id": "patterson-hennessy-2018",
"file": "reader/files/patterson-hennessy-2018-fsm.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/patterson-hennessy-2018-fsm.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Finite State Machines\"",
"short": "Patterson and Hennessy (2018), “Finite State Machines”",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/computerorganiza0000patt_d1r6",
"text": "full book (5th ed., 2014), borrowable"
}
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-05",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "Finite State Machines (FSMs) & the Algorithm Concept",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Finite State Machines",
"n": 25,
"page": 101
},
{
"mm": "What is an Algorithm?",
"n": 26,
"page": 106
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Chomsky (1957)",
"id": "chomsky-1957",
"file": "reader/files/chomsky-1957-ch3.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/chomsky-1957-ch3.pdf",
"linkText": "\"An Elementary Linguistic Theory\"",
"note": "(Syntactic Structures ch. 3, pp. 18–25 — the whole chapter)",
"short": "Chomsky (1957), “An Elementary Linguistic Theory”"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Hillis (1999)",
"id": "hillis-1999-pp30-38",
"file": "reader/files/hillis-1999-pp30-38.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/hillis-1999-pp30-38.pdf",
"linkText": "The Pattern on the Stone",
"note": "— pages 30–38",
"short": "Hillis (1999), The Pattern on the Stone, excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/patternonstone0000unse",
"text": "full book, borrowable"
}
},
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Gkasdrogkas (2019)",
"url": "https://levelup.gitconnected.com/an-example-based-introduction-to-finite-state-machines-f908858e450f",
"linkText": "\"An Example-based Introduction to Finite State Machines\"",
"note": "(skip NFAs)",
"short": "Gkasdrogkas (2019), “An Example-based Introduction to Finite State Machines”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-11-08",
"n": 4,
"title": "Computing with FSMs",
"covers": "10/27–11/5"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-10",
"unit": 2,
"topic": "Levels of Abstraction",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Levels of Abstraction",
"n": 27,
"page": 109
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Marr (1982)",
"id": "marr-1982",
"file": "reader/files/marr-1982-vision-ch1.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/marr-1982-vision-ch1.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Understanding Complex Information-Processing Systems\"",
"note": "— Vision ch. 1, §1.2",
"short": "Marr (1982), “Understanding Complex Information-Processing Systems”"
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Newell (1982)",
"id": "newell-1982",
"file": "reader/files/newell-1982-excerpt.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/newell-1982-excerpt.pdf",
"linkText": "“The Knowledge Level”",
"note": "— §§1 and 3 (pp. 87–88, 94–100)",
"short": "Newell (1982), “The Knowledge Level,” §§1 and 3",
"full": {
"url": "reader/files/newell-1982.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Newell (1982)",
"id": "newell-1982-full",
"file": "reader/files/newell-1982.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/newell-1982.pdf",
"linkText": "“The Knowledge Level”",
"note": "— the full paper",
"short": "Newell (1982), “The Knowledge Level,” full paper"
}
]
},
{
"type": "holiday",
"date": "2026-11-11",
"title": "Veterans Day — no sections this week"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-12",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "Turing Machines (TMs)",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Turing Machines",
"n": 28,
"page": 116
},
{
"mm": "Computing with Turing Machines",
"n": 29,
"page": 124
},
{
"tag": "C/T",
"cite": "Fitch and Friederici (2012)",
"id": "fitch-friederici-2012",
"file": "reader/files/fitch-friederici-2012-excerpt.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/fitch-friederici-2012-excerpt.pdf",
"linkText": "“Artificial grammar learning meets formal language theory: an overview”",
"note": "— §§1–3",
"short": "Fitch and Friederici (2012), “Artificial Grammar Learning Meets Formal Language Theory,” §§1–3",
"full": {
"url": "reader/files/fitch-friederici-2012.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C/T",
"cite": "Fitch and Friederici (2012)",
"id": "fitch-friederici-2012-full",
"file": "reader/files/fitch-friederici-2012.pdf",
"url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3367694/",
"linkText": "“Artificial grammar learning meets formal language theory: an overview”",
"note": "— the full paper",
"short": "Fitch and Friederici (2012), “Artificial Grammar Learning Meets Formal Language Theory,” full paper"
},
{
"cite": "Gallistel and King (2009) Memory and the Computational Brain, Preface",
"short": "Gallistel and King (2009), preface"
},
{
"tag": "T*",
"cite": "Turing (1936)",
"id": "turing-1936",
"file": "reader/files/turing-1936-excerpt.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/turing-1936-excerpt.pdf",
"linkText": "\"On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem\"",
"note": "(excerpt)",
"short": "Turing (1936), “On Computable Numbers,” excerpt",
"full": {
"url": "https://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/Turing_Paper_1936.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
},
{
"tag": "T",
"cite": "Boolos, Burgess, and Jeffrey (2007) Computability and Logic, Ch. 3:",
"id": "boolos-burgess-jeffrey-2007",
"file": "reader/files/boolos-burgess-jeffrey-2007-ch3.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/boolos-burgess-jeffrey-2007-ch3.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Turing Computability\"",
"short": "Boolos, Burgess, and Jeffrey (2007), “Turing Computability”"
},
{
"label": "Of interest:",
"cite": "The Imitation Game (2014) — a Hollywood biopic about Alan Turing",
"short": "The Imitation Game (2014), film"
},
{
"label": "Of interest:",
"links": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTSAiF9AHN4",
"text": "LEGO Turing Machine"
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo8izCKHiF0",
"text": "Wood Turing Machine"
}
],
"note": "[videos]"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-17",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "Recursive Algorithms for TM Computation",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Recursion",
"n": 30,
"page": 128
},
{
"mm": "Turing Machine Abstraction and Composition",
"n": 31,
"page": 134
},
{
"mm": "Binary Turing Machines",
"n": 32,
"page": 137
},
{
"mm": "The Mathematical Tree",
"n": 33,
"page": 139
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"cite": "Hillis (1999) The Pattern on the Stone,",
"id": "hillis-1999-programming",
"file": "reader/files/hillis-1999-programming.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/hillis-1999-programming.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Programming\"",
"short": "Hillis (1999), “Programming”",
"full": {
"url": "https://archive.org/details/patternonstone0000unse",
"text": "full book, borrowable"
}
},
{
"cite": "Miller, Galanter, and Pribram (1960) \"The Unit of Analysis,\" from Plans and the Structure of Behavior",
"url": "https://archive.org/details/plansstructureof00mill/page/21/mode/2up",
"short": "Miller, Galanter, and Pribram (1960), “The Unit of Analysis”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-19",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "Navigation as Computation in Physical Space",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Computational Navigation",
"n": 34,
"page": 142
},
{
"mm": "The Desert Ant",
"n": 35,
"page": 145
},
{
"mm": "Physical Cognition",
"n": 36,
"page": 150
},
{
"cite": "Goldman (2012)",
"id": "goldman-2012",
"file": "reader/files/goldman-2012.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/goldman-2012.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Desert Ants are Better at Trigonometry than Most High-School Students\"",
"short": "Goldman (2012), “Desert Ants Are Better at Trigonometry than Most High-School Students”"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"cite": "Gallistel (1998)",
"id": "gallistel-1998",
"file": "reader/files/gallistel-1998.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/gallistel-1998.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Insect Navigation: Brains as Symbol-Processing Organs\"",
"short": "Gallistel (1998), “Insect Navigation: Brains as Symbol-Processing Organs”"
},
{
"cite": "Collett et al. (2025)",
"id": "collett-2025",
"file": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/neuroethology_of_ant_navigation.pdf",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/neuroethology_of_ant_navigation.pdf",
"linkText": "\"The Neuroethology of Ant Navigation\"",
"short": "Collett et al. (2025), “The Neuroethology of Ant Navigation”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-11-22",
"n": 5,
"title": "Computing with TMs",
"covers": "11/10–11/17"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-11-24",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "Machines & Programs",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Machines and Programs",
"n": 37,
"page": 160
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Lovelace (1843)",
"id": "lovelace-1843",
"file": "reader/files/lovelace-1843-powers-of-the-engine.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/lovelace-1843-powers-of-the-engine.pdf",
"linkText": "Note G",
"note": "to Menabrea’s “Sketch of the Analytical Engine” (1843 text, pp. 722–731; read past the Bernoulli table rather than through it)",
"short": "Lovelace (1843), Note G on the Analytical Engine",
"full": {
"url": "https://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/sketch.html",
"text": "full text: the Sketch and all of the Notes"
}
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Colburn (1999)",
"id": "colburn-1999",
"file": "reader/files/colburn-1999-excerpt.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/colburn-1999-excerpt.pdf",
"linkText": "“Software, Abstraction, and Ontology”",
"note": "— §§1–4",
"short": "Colburn (1999), “Software, Abstraction, and Ontology,” §§1–4",
"full": {
"url": "reader/files/colburn-1999.pdf",
"text": "full paper"
}
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Colburn (1999)",
"id": "colburn-1999-full",
"file": "reader/files/colburn-1999.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/colburn-1999.pdf",
"linkText": "“Software, Abstraction, and Ontology”",
"note": "— the full paper",
"short": "Colburn (1999), “Software, Abstraction, and Ontology,” full paper"
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Pylyshyn (1980)",
"id": "pylyshyn-1980",
"file": "reader/files/pylyshyn-1980.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/pylyshyn-1980.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Computation and Cognition: Issues in the Foundations of Cognitive Science\"",
"note": "— sections 1–6",
"short": "Pylyshyn (1980), “Computation and Cognition,” §§1–6"
}
]
},
{
"type": "holiday",
"date": "2026-11-26",
"title": "Thanksgiving — no class"
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-12-01",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "The Universal Machine",
"read": [
{
"mm": "The Universal Machine",
"n": 38,
"page": 164
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Turing (1950)",
"id": "turing-1950",
"file": "reader/files/turing-1950.pdf",
"url": "https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~dprecup/courses/AI/Materials/turing1950.pdf",
"linkText": "“Computing Machinery and Intelligence”",
"note": "— §§1–5",
"short": "Turing (1950), “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” §§1–5"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Pylyshyn (1980)",
"id": "pylyshyn-1980",
"file": "reader/files/pylyshyn-1980.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/pylyshyn-1980.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Computation and Cognition: Issues in the Foundations of Cognitive Science\"",
"note": "— sections 7–11",
"short": "Pylyshyn (1980), “Computation and Cognition,” §§7–11"
}
]
},
{
"type": "lesson",
"date": "2026-12-03",
"unit": 3,
"topic": "Computation & Consciousness",
"read": [
{
"mm": "Cognitive Architecture",
"n": 39,
"page": 170
},
{
"mm": "Computation as Consciousness",
"n": 40,
"page": 173
},
{
"mm": "Computational Theory of Mind: The Long View",
"n": 41,
"page": 176
},
{
"tag": "C*",
"cite": "Turing (1950)",
"id": "turing-1950",
"file": "reader/files/turing-1950.pdf",
"url": "https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~dprecup/courses/AI/Materials/turing1950.pdf",
"linkText": "“Computing Machinery and Intelligence”",
"note": "— §§6–7",
"short": "Turing (1950), “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” §§6–7"
}
],
"recommended": [
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Baars (1988)",
"id": "baars-1988",
"file": "reader/files/baars-1988.pdf",
"url": "reader/files/baars-1988.pdf",
"linkText": "\"The Global Workspace Theory of Consciousness\"",
"short": "Baars (1988), “The Global Workspace Theory of Consciousness”"
},
{
"tag": "C",
"cite": "Lau and Rosenthal (2011)",
"id": "lau-rosenthal-2011",
"file": "reader/files/lau-rosenthal-2011.pdf",
"url": "https://www.davidrosenthal.org/DR-Lau-TICS.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Empirical Support for Higher-Order Theories of Conscious Awareness\"",
"short": "Lau and Rosenthal (2011), “Empirical Support for Higher-Order Theories of Conscious Awareness”"
},
{
"cite": "McDermott (2007)",
"id": "mcdermott-2007",
"file": "reader/files/mcdermott-2007.pdf",
"url": "http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/dvm/papers/conscioushb.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness\"",
"short": "McDermott (2007), “Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness”"
},
{
"tag": "C/T",
"cite": "Aaronson (2013)",
"id": "aaronson-2013",
"file": "reader/files/aaronson-2013.pdf",
"url": "https://www.scottaaronson.com/papers/philos.pdf",
"linkText": "\"Why Philosophers Should Care About Complexity Theory\"",
"short": "Aaronson (2013), “Why Philosophers Should Care About Complexity Theory”"
}
]
},
{
"type": "hw",
"date": "2026-12-04",
"n": 6,
"title": "Navigation with Turbots",
"covers": "11/19–12/3",
"note": "last day of instruction"
},
{
"type": "exam",
"date": "2026-12-09",
"title": "Final exam",
"start": "15:00",
"end": "18:00",
"where": "Public Affairs 1222",
"note": "Registrar's exam slot."
}
],
"resources": {
"Course book": [
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "book/making-minds.pdf",
"title": "Making Minds (MM)",
"note": "course book — always the current build"
}
],
"Books": [
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "reader/files/clark-2001-mindware.pdf",
"cover": "reader/thumbs/clark-2001-mindware.jpg",
"title": "Clark (2001) Mindware"
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/crane_2003__22the_mechanical_mind_23.pdf",
"cover": "reader/thumbs/crane-2003.jpg",
"title": "Crane (2003) The Mechanical Mind"
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/edelman_2008__22computing_the_mind_23.pdf",
"cover": "reader/thumbs/edelman-2008.jpg",
"title": "Edelman (2008) Computing the Mind"
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/pinker_1997__22how_the_mind_works_23.pdf",
"cover": "reader/thumbs/pinker-1997.jpg",
"title": "Pinker (1997) How the Mind Works"
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/ravenscroft_2005__22philosophy_of_mind_23.pdf",
"cover": "reader/thumbs/ravenscroft-2005.jpg",
"title": "Ravenscroft (2005) Philosophy of Mind"
}
],
"Articles": [
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/clark_1.pdf",
"title": "Clark (2001) \"Meat Machines\"",
"note": "from Mindware"
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "reader/files/goldman-2012.pdf",
"title": "Goldman (2012) \"Desert Ants are Better at Trigonometry than Most High School Students\""
},
{
"kind": "PDF",
"url": "uploads/9/3/9/1/9391709/ravenscroft_2005__22the_computational_theory_of_mind_23.pdf",
"title": "Ravenscroft (2005) \"The Computational Theory of Mind\"",
"note": "ch. 6 of Philosophy of Mind"
}
]
}
}