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The Mind within the Web. VI Summer School of Cognitive Science

The Summer School of Cognitive Science, organized under the patronage of the Polish Cognitive Science Association, is aimed at young researchers, Ph. D. and cognitive science (cognitive and social communication sciences) students, as well as academic organizations conducting various kinds of cognitive science research. The Summer School consists of a series of lectures and workshops that cover disciplines such as cognitive science, cognitive and social psychology, semiotics, cultural studies, visual studies, and neuroaesthetics. The title of this year's Summer School of Cognitive Science drew attention to how new technologies and media affect individuals and society. What are the consequences, considered psychologically, sociologically, anthropologically, and ethically, of the increasing technological merging of cognition, knowledge and communication?

What new kinds of cognition and knowledge, social behaviors and values will emerge in the global network society?

Nowadays, the belief is that new communication technologies are an important factor in determining the development of society and civilization, especially the growth of information and the advancement of knowledge.

On the one hand, many researchers claim that they enhance man's natural cognitive abilities and capabilities. On the other hand, it is noted more and more that information technologies are weakening and even destroying certain forms of perception, memory, imagination, as well as independent and creative thinking; abilities essential for education, public discourse, and participation in culture with its’ symbolism. There are plenty of indications that the development of modern communication technologies is contributing to the weakening of the ability to focus and control the attention span, the ability to remember larger chunks of information, and the ability to argue rationally. The atrophy of these skills can have serious political and social consequences in the form of radicalization and polarization of views, the wide spread of stereotypes, superstitions, prejudices and, consequently, the formation of post-truth culture.

The aim of the 6th Summer School of Cognitive Science, to be held September 7-10, 2022 in Kazimierz Dolny, is to attempt to provide a methodical and empirically supported answer to the question of how new technologies and media affect individuals and society. What are the psychological, sociological, anthropological and ethical consequences of the increasing technological mediation of cognition, knowledge and communication?

What is the right balance between the positive and negative consequences of new communication technologies ?

What new forms of cognition, knowledge and attitudes are emerging from the global Internet society?

We strongly encourage students, PhD students and young researchers from the fields of cognitive science, psychology, social sciences, linguistics, anthropology and finally philosophy to actively participate in the 6th Summer School of Cognitive Science.

We would greatly appreciate presentations focusing on the problems and questions listed below.

Communication technologies as new cognitive environments

new forms of cognition in the age of internet communication
diversity of cognitive systems emerging from new communication technologies
new media as a socio-cultural revolution or just a prolongation of cultural trends
impact of Internet communication on human cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, reasoning, problem solving, creativity and imagination
obstacles to the construction of intuitive human-machine interfaces
study of online social behaviour as a means of understanding individual and social behaviour
new opportunities for social research provided by emerging communication technologies such as crowdsourcing, social network analysis, Big Data and cyber-ethnography

Between knowledge and disinformation

the impact of the global communication network on the perspective of traditional epistemic virtues such as truth, reliability and credibility
post-truth and related mechanisms, such as fake news, clickbait, deep fake, information bubble
non-cognitive aspects of knowledge building practices
possible ways of counteracting disinformation through verification of beliefs and popularisation of science

The web & mental health

artificial intelligence, Big Data and network applications as new tools for diagnosing certain mental disorders
depression and anxiety disorders in the age of the Internet
new forms of technology addiction
the Internet and its role in raising awareness of mental disorders
impact of new technologies on redefinition of life priorities, sense of individual existence and social relations.

You are warmly invited!

Kognitywistyka KUL