The relationship between neuroscience and metaphysics is a complex and intriguing one. It highlights questions about the mind and the brain, memory and identity, freewill and determinism, happiness and pleasure, neural correlates of consciousness, the emotions, desire and fulfilment, ethics and morality, as well as the relation, if any, between quantum theory and neural mechanisms. In this fully illustrated day we will examine carefully some of these questions in order to see whethe... [More]

Far from demonstrating the “end of metaphysics”, many recent breakthroughs in neuroscience do seem to raise more metaphysical questions, for example, concerning dualism and determinism, the “mind-body” problem, freewill, subjective experience, mysticism, intentionality, explanatory gaps, indeterminacy and uncertainty, among many others. We look at some of the most notable recent advances and the metaphysical dimensions and questions that have arisen, in this fully illustrated day co... [More]

Decision making has long been conceived as either a rational thought process or an emotional one where we go by gut instincts. The latest research in neuroscience is telling us otherwise and that decisions are a finely tuned blend of both feeling and reason. In this course we will explore the ‘anatomy and physiology’ of judgement, how we actually make decisions and, most importantly, how we can make better decisions. [More]

What is ‘Neurophilosophy’? How are neuroscience and philosophy related, if at all? Can neuroscience solve some of the problems of metaphysics or philosophy of mind? Can it solve some of the riddles of dualism and of consciousness? In this one day course, we shall find out! Course Content Neurophilosophy: An Introduction Contemporary developments The “Hard Problems” Where to now? Course Outcomes understand "neurophilosophy" understand the relation between neuroscience and philosophy ... [More]

Neuroscience is one of the most exciting disciplines to emerge in the sciences recently; it promises much, but how much will it deliver? For example, some argue that it will provide authoritative or conclusive answers to puzzling (and perennial) questions: the question of consciousness; the question of freedom; the question of subjectivity – quite apart from the possibilities it offers in relation to the brain’s structure and function and to mental diseases and disorders. We shall e... [More]

Neuroscience is one of the most exciting branches in the modern sciences; it promises to reveal much about the brain, mind and consciousness. It also promises much in relation to our understanding and treatment of mental illness and various disorders. What are the major challenges that we face now in relation to our emerging understanding of fundamental brain processes? What are the epistemological dimensions in all of this (for example, the role of neurons and neural networks in th... [More]

Some of the most recent advances in neuroscience provide exciting and thought provoking perspectives on the nature of thinking, “madness”, reason, sexuality, consciousness, freewill, religiosity (or non-religiosity), emotion and embodied experience. We focus on some of the most exciting recent discoveries in neuroscience and look closely at the central arguments: does the emergence of “neuroscience” pose a threat to “philosophy”, in some sense? Does “philosophy” pose a threat to “ne... [More]

Are you interested in Creativity? How does your brain work when it’s coming up with ideas? Can you harness or improve those powers? This interactive course aims to disentangle myths from science, addressing in turn creativity/innovation in the neuron, the brain, the individual, and the organisation. Course Content Introduction Definition of creativity Where do good ideas come from? Why creativity is important? Exercise (GAUT) Neuron Plasticity Networks Genetic Psychological Interact... [More]

Are you interested in being more innovative personally or as a business, small or large? How does innovation work and how does your brain work to produce it? What is the need for innovation? Can it be increased personally and in a business/corporation? This full-day interactive course aims to elucidate some scientific facts about innovation and give some directions about how to increase innovation personally and collectively. Course Content The need for innovation How do corporation... [More]