Interfaces of the Mind

Intentionality is the mind’s capacity to reach beyond itself, i.e. to be directed at objects or states of affairs outside the mental realm. In recent philosophical debates, it has been suggested that body and environment, technical tools and even society play not only a causal role in shaping mental states but a constitutive one. This idea forces us to reconsider the traditional concept of intentionality and the intersections of the mind with these presumably external factors, which nevertheless are fundamental for describing and explaining mental states. Therefore, this workshop is dedicated to a philosophical scrutiny of this issue to develop a conceptual map of the mind’s interfaces.

The resulting conceptual framework is supposed to engender further empirical research on phenomena that deeply affect our everyday life. How do shared emotions affect cognitive actions in an intersubjective context? How does the body interfere with the mind? How exactly does the environment shape the mind in situated action? What is the role played by cognitive enhancers and other tools interfering with neural mechanisms in the brain? The workshop brings together philosophers addressing conceptual issues arising from recent developments in philosophy and cognitive science regarding the interfaces of the mind challenging classical views on intentionality.