The course is taught by Dr. Jonathan Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cardiff. It is suitable for PhD students from a broad range of disciplines who are interested in the role of attention in experience and is worth 2 ECTS.
Course description
The phenomenal character of experience is shaped by what one is attending to, and the way in which one is attending. Much theorising on the relation between conscious attention and experience has focused on perceptual experience, somewhat neglecting the role and character of attention across different modes of experience, such as imagination, memory, and emotion. In this short course we will explore the relation between attention and these more diverse modes of experience with a view to clarifying their intentionality and phenomenology.
In this course, students will critically examine the relation between attention and other central concepts in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science. Students will be instructed in the close analysis of philosophical texts, and will receive constructive feedback regarding presentation of philosophical arguments.
The reading list can be downloaded here.
Course instructor
Dr. Jonathan Mitchell is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cardiff. He received his PhD from the University of Warwick in 2016, and held post-docs at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Manchester before joining Cardiff. Dr. Mitchell works at the intersection of philosophy of mind and phenomenology. He has written extensively on the role of attention in phenomenal experience, the emotions, perception and imagination. In 2021, his book, "Emotion as Feeling towards Value," was published with Oxford University Press.
Course structure and schedule
Day 1: Mandatory course section (April 29, 2025)
- 09:00-10:00: Lecture 1 - Introduction to Conscious Attention (Dr. Jonathan Mitchell)
- 10:00-10:15: Break
- 10:15-10:45: Speaks, J. (2010). Attention and Intentionalism (Louise Clover)
- 10:45-11:15: Wu, W. (2011). What is Conscious Attention (Ying Yao)
- 11:15-11:30: Break
- 11:30-12:00: Watzl, S. (2017). Structuring Mind (Michela La Grotteria)
- 12:00-12:30: Deonna, J. A., & Teroni, F. (2015). Emotions as Attitudes (Sverre Granmo Hertzberg)
- 12:30-13:30: Lunch Break
- 13:30-14:30: Lecture 2 - Emotion and Attention (Dr. Jonathan Mitchell)
- 14:30-15:00: Fredrickson, B. L., & Branigan, C. (2005). Positive Emotions Broaden the Scope of Attention and Thought-Action Repertoires (Zihao Guo)
- 15:00-15:15: Break
- 15:15-15:45: Faucher, L., & Tappolet, C. (2002). Fear and the Focus of Attention (Julia Petz)
- 15:45-16:15: Brady, M. (2013). Emotional Insight: The Epistemic Role of Emotional Experience (Harish Pedaprolu)
- 16:15-16:30: Final Discussion and Wrapping Up
Day 2: Optional workshop on Emotion and Attention with the GoodAttention Group (April 30, 2025)
- 09.00–10.30: 'Grief’s medicalization and disorderly attention' by Dr. Michael Cholbi
- 10.30–11.00: Coffee/tea break
- 11.00–12.30: 'Proactive Grief: Attentional Anatomy of a Moral Emotion' by Ying Yao (PhD, GoodAttention)
- 12.30–13.30: Lunch
- 13.30–15.00: 'Attending to Things Past' by Dr. Jonathan Mitchell (Cardiff)
- 15.00–15.30: Coffee/tea break
- 15.30–17.00: 'The Project of Love' by Louise Clover (PhD, GoodAttention)
Participation at the workshop is encouraged but not mandatory for students registered in the course.
Course requirements
Required reading
Participants must complete:
- All mandatory readings before the course begins
- At least one optional reading from the reading list
Presentation
- 15 minute presentation on a paper from the reading list
- Students may propose alternative papers related to their research (requires prior approval).
Written assignment
Click here to upload the assignment
- 2,000-word paper on a course-related topic
- Submission deadline: Three weeks after the course (submit by May 20)
Participation
Active participation in discussions throughout the course is expected.
Target audience
This course is aimed at PhD Students in Philosophy, Psychology, and other related disciplines both at UiO and internationally. Priority will be given to students whose research is connected to the content of the course. While the course may be open to interested postdocs and master's students if space permits, PhD students will be given priority.
Application process
Please fill out the application form linked below. We will be accepting on a rolling basis. The application will be closed once the slots are filled. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by the end of March.
Contact information
For inquiries about the course, please contact Ying Yao and Louise Clover.