Denyse O'Leary
Neuroscientist: The Mind Is Just the Brain
He cites studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation, which caused subjects to see flashing lights
Evolutionary Biologist Defines Goldenrod Plant as “Intelligent”
The media release for the journal paper, sponsored by Cornell University, illustrates the growing comfort of science with panpsychist (everything is conscious) ideas
What Is Pseudoscience? A Philosopher Tries To Sort It Out
Finding little to go on, Massimo Pigliucci suggests relying on popular skeptic sites and, er, … himself
A Darwinian Biologist Winces at Bees That Have Feelings
The problem Jerry Coyne has with Lars Chittka’s evidence for emotions among bees points to a growing conflict between naturalism and panpsychism in science
Wanted: A Theory of Everything Based Only on Science Findings
The philosopher who expressed that wish is probably still looking… he could not find a naturalist theory that worked that way
Why Does a Brainless Sponge Have a Toolkit for a Nervous System?
A neuroscientist wrestles with the question of where the kit arose? From the one-celled life forms that preceded the sponge?
A Third Big Consciousness Theory: Each Neuron Is a Computer
Dendritic information theory (DIT) may not explain consciousness any better than other theories but it may shed light on how anesthesia produces LOSS of consciousness
Philosopher: Why Brain Science Does Not Eliminate Free Will
Tim Bayne looks at what we can logically deduce from the famous Libet experiments
New Pre-Crime Laws: Real-Life “Minority Report” Coming to Canada?
Americans should NOT assume that “It can’t happen here.” The First Amendment is a constitutional tool, not a magic talisman. It can be undermined
Consciousness Wars: Researcher Tries Negotiating a Truce
Witch hunts against leading theories are bad for a discipline’s reputation; Johan Storm thinks that all the prominent theories of consciousness are a little bit right
The Cancel Culture Mob Comes for the Psychologists
The response “It’s complicated,” chosen by nearly half of psychology profs, is a roundabout confession of cowardice in the face of mobs threatened by findings they hope to stifle
If We Doubt That Plants Have Minds, Are We “Soul-Blind”?
The concept of “plant mind” as a trend in science — a trend consistent with growing panpsychism— has begun to worry some researchers
How Do Writers Get Paid in an Age When Chatbots “Write” Things?
Are lawsuits against Big Tech really the answer? Much of the territory is uncharted
Does Time Exist? That’s Not As Clear As We Might Think
We picture a clock when we think of time but, physicists note, that’s not how we experience it as living beings
Does Your Dog Feel “Guilty” When He Rips the Sofa?
Dog expert Zazie Todd says no; when assessing dog emotions, we should think more simply
From a Philosopher: Philosophy of Consciousness Is “Bizarre”
Eric Schwitzgebel admits to his host at Closer to Truth that “every single view in the history of the philosophy of mind is bizarre”…
Our Universe Works, Yet Doesn’t Make Sense … And So?
How can so much uncertainty lie placidly at the basis of our universe but disrupt nothing in particular? We even build better computers because of it
Generative AI Is Creating a Copyright Crisis for Artists
How does an artist assert copyright when her image was only one of many used to create a new image? How does she make a living if she can’t?