Convergent Minds: The Evolution of Cognitive Complexity

Is the evolution of mind a historical accident, unlikely to emerge again if the tape of life on Earth were replayed?Or is mind likely to be an important feature of any living world Research in animal cognition suggests that complex forms of cognition, and perhaps even consciousness, have evolved multiple times in the history of life.  This conference will bring together a diverse group of pioneering scholars to tackle these big questions, and to illuminate the importance of historicity and necessity in the evolution of this, and perhaps any, living thinking world.

Convergent Minds: The Evolution of Cognitive Complexity

Hosted by Boston University Center for the Philosophy and History of Science together with Washington University-St. Louis, Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Program (Sponsored by The John Templeton Foundation, and the Boston University Center for Humanities) 

Saturday, October 24th, 2015
Photonics Colloquium Room (906)
9th Floor, Photonics Center
8 St. Mary’s Street

9:00am –1:00pm

The Evolution of Problem Solving Abilities in Mammalian Carnivores

            Kay Holekamp Zoology, Michigan State University

Cetaceans and Primates: Convergent Themes in Cognition

            Lori Marino Executive Director of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy (Kanab, Utah)

Convergent Abstractions: Why Comparative Cognition Isn’t Mechanistic (Enough)            
            Colin Allen HPSC and Cognitive Science, Indiana University

‘Raven Politics’: Understanding and Use of Third-party Relations

            Thomas Bugnyar Cognitive Ethology, University of Vienna

Why Might Minds Converge? The Case of the Octopus

            Jennifer Mather Psychology, University of Lethbridge

Convergence on What: Rationality, Reason, or Passion?           
            Dan McShea Biology, Duke University

2:30pm – 5:30pm

Smart Moves: Is Behavioral Flexibility Evidence of Cognitive Complexity?

            Irina Mikhalevich  Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and Philosophy, Washington U.-St. Louis

What Can Insect Brains Tell Us About How Difficult it is to Evolve Intelligence?     
            Lars Chittka Sensory and Behavioral Ecology, Queen Mary University of London

The Spoon Lecture ~ Relativity and Anchors in Time

            Nicola S. Clayton and Clive A. P. Wilkins Psychology, University of Cambridge, Artist

Synthetic Commentary

            Matt Cartmill Anthropology, Boston University