The Cognitive Philosopher
Exploring all things good in cognitive science with a philosophical lens
-
The Science of Expectation: Using Humor To Understand Creativity
How humor first plays to our expectations and then breaks them to leave us laughing.
-
What We Laugh At and Why We Laugh
When do we laugh most? The surprising answer is not during joke-telling. We laugh when we're with our friends, most of the time at the trivial stuff, leading some cognitive scientists to speculate on the evolutionary origins off laughter.
-
What Radiohead Teaches Us About Musical Innovation
What makes a great musician or band great? From an evolutionary point of view, it might come down to pleasure.
-
Where Does Passion Come From?
Why are all great achievers willing to go through all the pain? Small genetic advantages might make the difference.
-
Thinking Laterally In A Linear World: Why More Education Isn’t Important
Competition makes us better. But thinking about the world as a contest might be a bane on creativity.
-
The Irrationality of Irrationality: The Paradox of Popular Psychology
The popular psychology of judgement and decision making is enlightening. But many readers are approaching these books uncritically.
-
The Pros and Cons of Likemindedness
Surrounding yourself with likeminded people is good for romantic relationships, but bad for business.
-
Produce First, Sharpen Second: What Dylan’s Vomit Teaches Us About The Creative Process
Good ideas and work arise from one's ability to recognize good, mediocre or bad things. Some recent research gives us a strategy to accomplish this.
-
The Illusion of Understanding Success
Our tendency to rely on narratives to explain the world distorts our understanding of what it takes to be successful.
-
To Speed Up The Creative Process, Slow Down
What's the key to creativity and problem solving? Relax.
