English

This course examines the role of the body in human cognition, through what has come to be known as the 4E (embodied, enactive, embedded and extended) approach to cognition. 4E cognition theories are radically opposed to dualism – the binary division between mind and body, prominent over millennia of Western philosophy – and view the currently dominant computational models of cognition as problematically preserving some aspects of it. From this perspective, the brain is now understood as a part of a broader system: physical, embodied interaction with our environment is a crucial and inseparable part of how thought and meaning making take place. Embodied approaches to cognition see thought, perception, and action as interwoven. They suggest an innovative approach to cognition as a dynamic process, emerging from the interaction between human minded-bodies (or bodyminds) and their lived environments. In addition to embodied and enactive, the mind is thus treated as extended beyond the brain and embedded in relationality to the outside world. Thinking is not something purely abstract that occurs with new ‘sense data’ entering the closed system of our heads, interpreted there and expressed in our behavior: it is a constant, multi-layered process, keenly involving our bodies and the world we inhabit, that is enacted in our consciousness and perceptual experience. This perspective has paved the way for new intersections and collaborations between cognitive science and the arts and humanities. 4E approaches shed new light on questions of experience and understanding in the arts and humanities, and vice versa: newly emerging collaborations between the arts and humanities and cognitive studies contribute to further understanding of the role of the body in how we experience, make sense and think. Art has long been a field where meaning is communicated, experienced, and explored through tangible images, bodies, objects, environments and movements, where understanding and inspiration are not purely mental and abstract but take place through embodied encounters with the world. Art is, therefore, of immense potential value for furthering our understanding of embodied aspects of the mind. In this course case studies from different forms of art and media as gateways to concretize and better grasp this theoretical perspective through are discussed.

This course examines the history of Christianity in Asia from the early modern period to the present, focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries while covering China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and others. Over a broad chronology, this course highlights how Asian Christianities were shaped and reshaped within specific regional contexts and in parallel with changes in Christianity worldwide. Students will explore the interactions between missionaries and indigenous Christians, the various expressions of Christianity, and context-specific constraints such as imperialism, nationalism, and broader interreligious settings. Using both primary and secondary sources, this course illustrates the shape of Asian Christianity from past to present, the thorny nature of religious encounter, and its surprising outcomes in World History.

This course examines the economic foundations of managerial decision-making. Topics include the supply-demand model, empirical analysis of demand, consumer choice, production and costs, the organization of the firm, market structure, pricing, game theory, uncertainty, information, the agency problem, and market failure.

Political leaders use architecture to convey power, to express political ideas, and to influence how people think and act. In 20th-century Europe, political ideologies including fascism, communism, colonialism, and democracy influenced the creation of new buildings and cities. Students explore those ideologies through the spaces that they produced, and a selection of examples spanning between Hitler’s plans to transform Berlin to public swimming pools in post-war Britain. Under the banner of democracy, students also explore how forces within Irish politics impacted the Dublin cityscape. This is a history of modern Europe told through the mark left by political actors upon architecture and cities.

This course examines the major issues and sectors of the Hong Kong economy. It combines economic analysis, institutional arrangements, policies, and current public concerns. The course begins with a brief review and highlights of Hong Kong’s economic development. It then goes on to the following areas: the monetary system and exchange rate regime, banking and finance, external trade and investment, the fiscal budget, the labor market, income distribution, and regional integration. 

This is a foundation course in Cell Biology. The first part of the course focuses on the molecules that serve as building blocks for cellular components and the chemical reactions by which these molecules are formed or broken down. Special attention is given to proteins, since these molecules are so fundamental to cell function. Next, the concept and process of cell specialization in multicellular organisms is studied by examining how cells maintain, copy, transcribe and translate their genetic material. Cellular organization is studied in the second part of the course. How different cellular components are delivered to the right location and how intercellular communication and cell division take place are reviewed. In addition to acquiring knowledge about the safe handling of microorganisms and cells in laboratory settings, the relevant laws and regulations in the Netherlands about this subject are reviewed. For this purpose, 2 lectures, 2 practicals, an eLearning module, and digital end test are organized. If the end test is completed successfully, students get a certificate indicating they can work in biological laboratories (VMT-certificate).

This course examines the techniques and procedures of evaluating environmental consequences arising from human activities, with focus on their application in Hong Kong as prescribed under the Hong Kong Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and its Technical Memorandum. 

This course is an economic analysis of various environmental issues, including sustainable development, quality of life, and environmental impacts of specific industrial and consumption activities. It covers the design and implementation of government policies, and global environmental effects of human economic activity.

The course takes an interdisciplinary perspective and approach and is jointly conducted by the Department of Psychology and the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS). It is aimed at those who wish to learn about the complex linkages between psychology, climate change, and sustainability, and apply them in their respective fields of work or study. Explore the ways our changing climate affect individuals and groups, including climate distress and its consequences, the psychological and behavioral factors that can drive the climate crises, and the theories and practices that can support skillful action across individual, collective and system levels. The course draws upon research from several fields, such as evolutionary, cognitive, social, industrial/organizational, and clinical psychology, behavioral economics, and sustainability science. The course includes experiential learning and practices drawing from evidence-based psychological methods (e.g., journaling, listening and communication exercises, values reflections), contemplative methods such as meditations and mindfulness, and nature explorations. The course is taught in English and includes both on-site and online education.

This course examines religion in contemporary Chinese society, emphasizing its presence and influence in everyday life. It goes beyond religious texts to immerse students in the richness of Chinese spiritual life, demonstrating how religious traditions in China are not merely philosophical concepts, but living practices that shape the everyday experiences of individuals and communities. A special feature of this course is that we will take students on visits to a variety of religious sites in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to experience firsthand the diversity and vibrancy of religious life in China. This includes participating in meditation sessions, attending religious festivals, and learning the intricacies of the tea ceremony in a Buddhist setting. In addition to these immersive activities, the course will discuss the broader role of religion in shaping contemporary Chinese society. We will explore how religious beliefs and practices intersect with important social issues such as economics, the environment, gender, sexuality, and politics.