Brain researchers observe and manipulate the brain using ever more refined methods. Scientific research enables us to understand better the location and operation of neural processes: to think, to observe, to feel. Experiments should demonstrate that free will is an illusion. A god-spot should be located in the brain and a cyborg-future is at hand, where our self is extended by neural implants. But do these naked laboratory results really force us to draw the spectacular conclusions that are often drawn? Do neurosciences really subvert our traditional way of self-understanding?

This lecture series offers a perspective on five domains where the neurosciences make remarkable progress. It scrutinizes the possible consequences for human self-understanding. On 6th May, Prof. Dr. Joachim Leilich and Prof. Dr. Eric Myin read an introductory lecture.

Every lecture will take place at Hof van Liere, Prinsstraat 13 in Antwerp, from 20:00 till 22:00 hrs.
Entrance is free. Click here to register.

PROGRAMME

• Measuring consciousness (in English) –Thursday 7 Oct. 2010
  Steven Laureys obtained his Ph.D. at the Cyclotron Research Center at the University of Liège, Belgium, where he studying residual brain function in the vegetative state in 2000.
  Tim Bayne, Dpt. of Philosophy, University of Oxford will be the respondent.
• Body consciousness (in English) - Wednesday 13 Oct. 2010 
  J. Kevin O'Regan, Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception, CNRS, Institut Paris Descartes de Neurosciences et Cognition.
  Helena De Preester, Royal Academy of Arts, Ghent will be the respondent.
• Free Will (in English) - Wednesday 27 Oct. 2010
  John-Dylan Haynes is Professor for Theory and Analysis of Large Scale Brain Signals at the Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience in Berlin (2006) and group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig (2005).
• Emotions (in English) - Wednesday 17Nov. 2010
  Corrado Sinigaglia, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Science, University of Milan.
  Willem Lemmens, Dpt. of Philosophy, University of Antwerp will be the respondent.
• Belief (in Dutch) - Wednesday 24 Nov. 2010
  Dirk de Ridder is doctor in Medical Sciences at the University of Antwerp (2004). He founded BRAI²N the Brain Research Centre Antwerp for Innovative and Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation.
  Walter Van Herck, Dpt. of Philosophy, University of Antwerp, will be the respondent.

Back to public lectures