The Cognitive Philosopher
Exploring all things good in cognitive science with a philosophical lens
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Learning From the Illusion of Understanding
"The feeling of certainty might be our default setting. (...) We believe we understand the world with detail and coherence, even though our folk theories are usually incomplete."
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Mindfulness: Observing Without Questioning
"An unfortunate aspect of our mental life is how unscientific it is. When we have an intuition – an idea about how the world works and how we behave in it – we act like the amateur scientist; we don’t investigate opposing ideas but automatically seek out confirming evidence. We’re elaborate story weavers (...)"
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The Albatross and the Chameleon
The curious case of domain dependency.
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Virtues of Cognitive Workout
New research reveals neurological underpinnings of intelligence.
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The Science of Creativity in 2013: Looking Back to Look Forward
Amid growing interest in creativity in the lab and on the pages of popular books and magazines, these recent studies stand out.
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Awe-Inspiring Art as a Byproduct of the Freeze Response
How awe --- both beautiful and terrible --- causes us to freeze in our tracks.
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The Expert’s Ear: Expertise And Aesthetic Judgments
Do objective standards in art exist? Are experts in the best position to recognize these standards because they appreciate work conducted within their domain of expertise?
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The Role of Suspense in Stories and Music
Storytellers and musicians create and manage expectations to build suspense and keep the audience coming back for more.
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Ego Depletion, Motivation and Attention: A New Model of Self-Control
New research suggests that willpower slackens not because self-control is depleted but rather as the result of shifts in motivation, attention and emotion.
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Correcting Creativity: The Struggle for Eminence
Excessive focus on the cognitive science of creativity trivializes "big C" creativity and reduces eminent creators and their creations to clichés. This misplaced focus robs us of the opportunity to understand original thinking and genuine innovation.
