Alerted by Arnold Trehub, I just discovered Science & Consciousness Review, an interesting group blog devoted to reviewing work on the science of consciousness. Incidentally, Arnold has a quick review of Annti Revonsuo’s book, Inner Presence and one of Velmans and Schneider’s Blackwell Companion to Consciousness.
My colleague Bob Gordon is the originator of the simulation theory, one of the two main theories of folk psychology (the other being the theory theory). Aside from being an influential theory in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, in recent years the simulation theory has had a large impact on social robotics.Bob …
A student who prefers to remain anonymous has sent me the following interesting query:I have recently been offered a place in a top Canadian PhD program (one that is ranked quite highly in about 7 specialty areas). Since I have a master’s, I have been accepted directly into the PhD …
In a previous post, I wrote about HBO’s 14-part documentary series on addiction, which is set to premiere on March 15. What if you don’t have cable? HBO has set up a website where, immediately after the premiere, all 14 films will be made available for free. Apparently this is …
Here.
Many theories of attention postulate a mechanism involving the thalamus. Roughly, the idea is that the thalamus can enhance certain sensory signals going to the cortex at the expense of others, and this is what constitutes (sensory) attention. (The mechanism may depend in part on recurrent signals from cortex to …
The next issue of the New York Times Magazine has an article on the way neuroscience is changing the law and judicial system. More reasons why philosophers of mind and ethicists should not ignore neuroscience.
