Gualtiero Piccinini
Florence G. Kline Prof & Curators’ Distinguished Prof @ MU. Barwise Prize winner. Author, Neurocognitive Mechanisms (OUP 2020). Resist fascism, address climate change, support Ukraine!
- A chat among the past and present editors of the Brains Blog for its 20th anniversary. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeld...
- Reposted by Gualtiero PiccininiMy friend and mentor, the wonderful philosopher Jim Bogen, has died. #HPS #Philsci dailynous.com/2025/12/04/j...
- Why you should stop using the label "cognitive science" and use "mind sciences" instead (or something like that): philosophyofbrains.com/2025/11/08/f...
- If you are applying to philosophy PhD programs, consider applying to Mizzou. I'm Director of Grad Admissions this year so ask me about it. Deadline to be considered for a fellowship is Jan 10.
- Check out this excellent paper:
- My paper "Why prosocial octopuses challenge the autonomy of psychological states" has just been published by Synthese. I argue that some psychological states require neural realizers, and this challenges automony. @socphilneuro.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...
- Looking forward to this too!
- Looking forward to this! #philsci #cogsky #CognitiveNeuroscience www.merex-project.org/workshop-2026 @tonychemero.bsky.social @dcm.social.sunet.se.ap.brid.gy @davidcolaco.bsky.social @francesegan.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social @laurennross.bsky.social @okaydaniellle.bsky.social
- A paper on mine entitled "Neural Hardware for the Language of Thought: New Rules for an Old Game" has been circulating since early 2025 and has been cited in print. I have received anonymous feedback from some Classical LOT supporters and made some revisions to address their concerns. 1/
- The main argument is the same but I've made a few tweaks and added some footnotes. I have now posted it on the ArXiv (link in comments) and a couple of other places so it can be cited in a stable form. 2/
- The paper advances the debate in three ways: (1) It distinguishes different LOT hypotheses—including Representational, Computational, Classical, and Nonclassical LOT hypotheses—in terms of the computational architecture they require. This clarifies LOT's empirical commitments. 3/
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View full threadMany thanks to Otavio Bueno for making this possible. 10/10 arxiv.org/abs/2510.10251
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- Our chapter on cognitive homologies *in print* ! 🤩 @beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social Thread & link 🔗 below👇
- My commentary on Anil Seth's forthcoming BBS target article defending biological naturalism has been accepted. It's entitled "The Neurobiophysical Substrate of Consciousness": 1/
- Abstract: I argue that creature consciousness depends on specific neurobiophysical properties that constitute the medium for phenomenally conscious states. Such properties are not medium flexible in the way required by computational functionalism. 2/
- Therefore, computational functionalism fails and one of the following holds: biological naturalism, a nonbiological yet noncomputational version of functionalism, or a view according to which consciousness requires specific (macro)physical qualities. 3/
- For now I've just posted it on Academia.edu. If you want to see it but lack access, let me know. 4/4
- Reposted by Gualtiero PiccininiThis book is finally out. You'll find there our chapter on "Frames of discovery and the format of cognitive representation" by yours truly and Dimitri Coelho Mollo. Thanks to @gualtiero.bsky.social for the amazing editirial work!
- 😊 So proud this is out now: "Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social! www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
- Neurocognitive Foundations of Mind is out. Check it out.
- 😊 So proud this is out now: "Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social! www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
- Revealed: the huge growth of Myanmar scam centres that may hold 100,000 trafficked people - The Guardian
- I recently learned that Robert "Bob" Gordon, of simulation theory fame, passed away on April 13, 2025, at the age of 92. A celebration of his life will occur on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 5:00 – 7:00 pm Central at the Ethical Society of St. Louis. 1/
- As many of you know, Bob made important contributions to ethics and the philosophy of mind and the mind sciences. He is best known for creating the simulation theory of mindreading. His landmark paper, "Folk Psychology as Simulation," was published in 1986. 2/
- These days, the view that cognition involves simulation (of the world as well as others) is mainstream. But when Bob came up with the view that understanding others involves simulating them, few if any people had similar ideas. He's been amply vindicated by the evolution of the mind sciences. 3/
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View full threadBob continued to publish in philosophy into his 80s. Everything I read by him is insightful, original, and worth reading and thinking about. I learned a lot from Bob. I will always remember his warmth, kindness, and insight. 5/5
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- This paper by @gualtiero.bsky.social gives a great overview of the (unnecessary and unfounded) conflation of computationalism and functionalism: philarchive.org/rec/PICFC
- A substantively revised version of the SEP entry on Computation in Physical Systems, with several updates, new references, and other improvements, just came live. Link below.
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- Check this out:
- I’m looking forward to our symposium at @ispsm.bsky.social on Sat at 5:30pm CEST. Zoom in to catch me, @kenaizawa.bsky.social, @gualtiero.bsky.social, and @francesegan.bsky.social talk about realism in Neuroscience! 🧠 🥳
- Submissions are due soon on philosophy and neuromorphic AI
- LAST REMINDER! ⏰ Our call for papers is approaching its final deadline! Don't miss your chance to submit your work. One month left! Submission: journals.ub.uni-koeln.de/index.php/ph... @gualtiero.bsky.social @loehrgui.bsky.social @philosophyofai.bsky.social @wanjawiese.bsky.social #philsky
- I'm teaching a course on consciousness and I'd like to cover the role of memory for consciousness, especially how some sort of memory buffer is needed to stabilize experiences long enough for us to experience it and report on them. Does anyone know of any good literature on this?
- Gill Eapen interviewed me on some of my recent work -- integrating psych and neuro, classical vs nonclassical LOT, egalitarian composition and realization, and knowing that as knowing how -- for the podcast Scientific Sense. Links below.
- Audio: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p... Video: youtu.be/eqebmqkVK5M
