212. Dr. Paco Calvo - Cognitive Scientist / Philosopher of Biology / Author – Challenging Your Expectations

Apr 1, 2025

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We are speaking with Paco Calvo, who joins us from Southern Spain. Paco Calvo is a renowned cognitive scientist and a philosopher of biology, known for his groundbreaking research in the field of plant cognition and intelligence. At the University of Murcia he leads the Minimal Intelligence Lab (MINT Lab), focusing on the study of minimal cognition in plants. He is the author of Planta Sapiens. At his lab he studies the ecological basis of plant intelligence by conducting experimental studies at the intersection of the areas of plant neurobiology and ecological psychology. His interdisciplinary work combines insights from biology, philosophy, and cognitive science to explore the fascinating world of plant behavior, decision-making, and problem-solving.

This is the backdrop to our conversation.

Paco is a philosopher and scientist who actively wonders and asks questions about plants – and tests for them. Do plants think? Do plants feel? How do plants make decisions. We discuss how these questions bother the current heterodoxy … and the current calls for the defunding of his scientific work. We learn about “fast science”, the dangers of working for a membership, the importance of considering all hypotheses ... and we are reminded about Einstein and his take on ideas vs testing. We hear from him his ultimate obsession and as a treat, his take on language.

The history of science is the history of the blow to human ego.

See also the episode with Dr. Vera Tiesler (ep 81).

Paco:

Laurie Anderson: Language is a Virus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTSL2kopP4

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