Reconceptions of Action (1)

Organizers: J.M. Roy (ENS-LYON) & C. Sinigaglia (Univ. of Milano-Visiting Prof. ENS-LYON)

Workshop Argument

Both in philosophy and in cognitive science, the study of action has received central attention since the middle of last century. It is however arguable that this undeniably consequential transformation of the study of action has not resulted yet in any clear overall picture of the nature and functioning of action. As a result, a legitimate need to clarify where we stand with respect to the scientific understanding of action is currently emerging, that can be summarized with the following questions: What are the most significant transformations that took place in the field of action ? What aspects of our traditional undertstanding of action have they modified ? To what extent do they radically alter this undertanding ? To use an expression that philosopher Nelson Goodman coined for a different but not irrelevant field, to what extent do they amount to a "Reconception" of action? 

Clear echoes of this concern can be detected in a series of recent book publications, both on the philsophical side [e.g.: Aguilar, J., & Buckareff, A. (2009). Philosophy of action: 5 questions. Cambridge; Aguilar, J., & Buckareff, A. (2010). Causing Human actions: New perspectives on the causal theory of action. Cambridge; Aguilar, J., Buckareff, A., & Frankish, K. (2011). New waves in philosophy of action. Cambridge: Palgrave Mcmillan.] and on the neurocognitive side [e.g.:Morsella, E., Bargh, J., & Gollwitzer, P. (2009). Oxford Handbook of Human Action. Oxford University Press.]

This general interrogation on the deep significance of the transformations taking place in action theory for our understanding of what action is and how it functions, is also guided by a more specific concern about their meaning for the relevance of a pragmatist perspective on cognitive explanation. Accordingly, the workshop is organized in the context of the Sino-French research operation Knowledge and Action Lab, conducted under the auspices of the Joint Research Institute Scientific for Science and Society of the East China Normal University of Sanghaï and the Ecole Normale Supérieur of Lyon. This research operation is directed by Professors Zhengua Yu(ECNU, Shanghaï), and Prof. J.M Roy (ENS Lyon).           

Participants:

• Gabriella BOTTINI, Psychology Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, 
• Stephen BUTTERFILL, Department of Philosophy, Warwick University
• Alessandro FARNE, Espace & Action Laboratory, INSERM, Lyon
• Yves ROSSETTI, Physiology, Lyon Medical School Lyon-Est & Espace & Action Laboratory, INSERM, Lyon
• Angela SIRIGU, Centre de Neurosciences Cognitives, Lyon
• Corrado SINIGAGLIA, Department of PhilosophyUniversity of Milan
• J.M. ROY, CESC, Lyon ENS

Open Attendance 
Prior Registration needed

Please register with J.M Roy at:
[email protected]