Understanding Others: An international two-day workshop on the problem of other minds

Organisers: Dr Anita Avramides & Dr Michael Sollberger

The workshop aims to bring together researchers who work on the problem of other minds, i.e., the question of how we understand and know about the mental lives of other people. The problem of other minds is a topic that interests philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists alike. The interest in this problem can be explained by reference to its scope, variety, and inter-disciplinary nature. In fact, it forms part of the broader context of social cognition, i.e., of how we perceive, understand, emotionally apprehend, and interpret the intentional activity of others. There are many differing approaches to the problem of other minds within philosophy: there is the approach of analytical philosophy, as well as that of the phenomenological tradition. Even within analytical philosophy there are those who take this to be an epistemological issue and those that insist it is largely conceptual. There is important work being done in both psychology and neuroscience that can be used to advance our understanding here. The workshop will highlight the current state of the art, provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, and open up innovative questions for future research.

Schedule:

Monday, 11 March

9.00 - 9.30 Coffee and registration

9.30 - 11.00 Paul Snowdon (UCL London): Other minds: Some problems and some
responses

11.00 - 11.15 Tea

11.15 - 12.45 Anita Avramides (Oxford): Perception of other minds

12.45 - 14.30 Sandwich lunch

14.30 - 16.00 Søren Overgaard (Copenhagen): Other minds and disjunctivism
about behaviour

16.00 - 16.30 Tea

16.30 - 18.00 Michael Sollberger (Oxford/Fribourg): Other minds and the
knowledge asymmetry

19.00 - open Dinner


Tuesday, 12 March

9.15 - 10.45 Anil Gomes (Oxford): Problems of other minds

10.45 - 11.00 Tea

11.00 - 12.30 Pierre Jacob (Institut Jean Nicod, Paris): A puzzle about belief-ascription

12.30 - 14.00 Sandwich lunch

14.00 - 15.30 Shaun Gallagher (Memphis): In your face: Embodied and enactive social cognition

15.30 - 16.00 Tea

16.00 - 17.30 Jane Heal (Cambridge): 'You' and 'I'

17.30 - 18.15 Speakers roundtable discussion

19.00 - open Dinner


REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL
To register please send an email to: [[email protected]]
Fees (include teas and sandwich lunches on both days):
Staff and students of Oxford University: £10
Staff and students of other philosophy departments: £20
Others: £50
In the email please indicate your name and surname, affiliation, fee category, and whether you prefer vegetarian food. All fees will be collected at the workshop venue. Places are limited, so it is appreciated that you register as soon as possible.