MIND SCIENCE AND EVERYTHING!

Our understanding of the mind and experience, once the product of largely a priori reasoning and speculation, has increasingly profited from discoveries in the empirical sciences.  Most obviously, philosophers have drawn on data from the neurosciences and psychology, but research from such disparate fields as biological evolution, psychiatry and quantum physics has also been claimed to have possible implications for the philosophies of mind and perception.

The Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience is convening a graduate conference to promote interdisciplinary discussion of the relationship between the philosophies of mind and perception and relevant scientific disciplines.  In particular we are interested in exploring issues related to the following questions:

What is the role of empirical evidence in informing and shaping philosophical theories?

How do philosophical theories guide and influence scientific research?
To what extent does philosophy of mind go beyond the reach of science?

We are soliciting papers on the above topics. In addition, we will consider papers that draw on empirical work in reaching conclusions about the nature of the mind and perception.

Abstracts of 500 words should be submitted by 5th April 2010 for consideration to either John Donaldson (j.donaldson.1@research.gla.ac.uk) or Andy MacGregor (a.macgregor.1@research.gla.ac.uk).

The conference will be held on Friday 25th and Saturday the 26th of June 2010, in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow.

The conference website is online