CFP: Natural Cognition: Logic, Evolution, Organisms

Contemporary research on comparative cognition tends to support Charles
Darwin’s claim that the difference between human and non-human minds is
"one of degree and not of kind". This hypothesis is still controversial,
however, and the question of how and why human cognitive competences may
differ from those of other animals does not concern only comparative
cognition, but a host of different fields as well. On the other hand, the
very lack of an all-embracing definition of cognition involves the
intervention of philosophy in monitoring the discussion. The aim of this
conference is to promote an interdisciplinary discussion on the foundations
of an evolutionary approach to cognition, bringing together scholars
working in biology, logic, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics,
and philosophy.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Marcello D’Agostino (University of Ferrara)

Stefano Puglisi-Allegra (University La Sapienza of Rome)

Luca Tommasi (University of Chieti-Pescara)

Shigeru Watanabe (Centre for Advanced Research on Logic and Sensibility,
Keio University)

Tian-Ming Yang (Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Shanghai)

CALL FOR PAPERS

We invite proposals that directly contribute to or intersect with the theme
of the conference. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

-       Experimental, theoretical and methodological issues of comparative
cognition

-       Evolutionary origin of human logic

-       Non-inferential processes in cognition

-       Formation of concepts

-       Metacognition and its role in reasoning

-       Spatial and numerical cognition in animals

-       Planning, memory and mental time travel

-       Continuity *vs*. discontinuity between human and non-human cognition

-       Evidence of and challenges to the uniqueness of human cognition

Submission of both theoretical papers and empirical research papers, as
well as the submission of research paper at earlier stages of work are
encouraged.

Abstracts should not exceed 500 words, they should be in English, and be
submitted in Adobe pdf format by the 30th October 2013 to the organizers (
[email protected]; [email protected]).

Notification of accepted proposals will be sent shortly after the deadline
for abtsract submission.

We plan to publish selected and updated papers in an academic journal or in
a book.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Inquiries and clarifications about the conference can be addressed to the
organizers. For information about practical matters please contact Ms. Isa
Chan ([email protected]). For information about the University of Macau,
please visit www.umac.mo.



ORGANIZERS

Nevia Dolcini

Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and
Humanities, University of Macau

email: [email protected]



Mario Piazza

Department of Philosophy, University of Chieti-Pescara

email: [email protected]