The Human Mind and the Open Society

This summer school focuses on how understanding the human mind as a tool for navigating a richly social existence can inform our understanding and advocacy of open society, and the ideals it represents.



It will focus on four key ideals of open society. We will survey research on the cognitive and evolutionary basis of each; and explore some potential policy implications of this new understanding. Specifically, we shall focus on: Deliberation & the public sphere, Moral cognition & inequality, Trust & the rule of law, Cooperation & institutions. We have developed an innovative structure that mixes several different types of learning sessions, including but also going beyond traditional lectures and seminars. Students with a social science background will be exposed to research on the cognitive bases of citizens’ behaviour and interests. Reciprocally, students with a psychological background will see better how the individual phenomena they study—often in controlled, laboratory conditions—play out in society, and can either help or hinder the development of open societies.

Course leader

Thom Scott- Phillips, Institute for Language, Cognition, Logic & Information, San Sebastian, Spain

Christophe Heintz, Department of Cognitive Science, CEU Vienna, Austria

Target group

Our main target audience is PhD students and researchers in their first postdoctoral appointment. Exceptionally, we will consider MA and advanced BA students who have relevant prior experience and make a compelling case in their letter of motivation.

Credits info

2 EC
Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate of attendance is also awarded.

Fee info

EUR 550: payable until May 28

Scholarships

The Open Society University Network is offering scholarships on a competitive basis for currently enrolled students and employees of OSUN member institutions. If admitted, fee waivers are available for students of CIVICA institutions.