Renowned cognitive scientist and philosopher Evan Thompson explores the symbiosis of meditation, cognitive science, and philosophy. Topics include the experiential depth revealed by meditative states, transformative social aspects of meditation, philosophical views on death, meditation's role in personal development and intellectual growth, and its impact on philosophical thought.

Evan Thompson, a philosophy professor at the University of British Columbia and author of 'The Blind Spot,' joins the conversation to unravel the mysteries of consciousness. They discuss the autonomy of living systems, emphasizing organisms as self-governing agents rather than mere machines. The conversation critiques reductionist views, exploring how consciousness and embodiment interplay. They also tackle the limitations of artificial intelligence in capturing cognitive complexities and stress the importance of ethical considerations in its development.

This episode features Evan Thompson, author of the book Why I Am Not a Buddhist. Evan Thompson is a writer and professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His work and research focuses on the nature of the mind, the self, and human experience combining cognitive science, philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and cross-cultural philosophy, particularly Asian philosophical traditions. This episode explores: Thompson’s beef with what he calls “Buddhist exceptionalism,” “Buddhist modernism,” and “neural Buddhism;” why Buddhism is so attractive in the Western world; our culture’s need for validation of meaning through science; McMindfulness and the Western obsession with individualism; the dialogue between science and Buddhism; what the Buddha meant by the word dukkha, or suffering; and Evan lays out his case for an alternative to Buddhist exceptionalism, which he calls “cosmopolitanism.”Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/evan-thompson-417See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The idea that meditation is a "mind science" is popular, but in this interview Canadian philosopher Evan Thompson argues that this claim does not stand up to either scientific or philosophical scrutiny. As one of the pioneers of the Embodied Cognition movement Thompson reminds us that the Mind is not restricted to the Brain and we must also consider how other recent discoveries in neuroscience fail to support the claim that meditation provides neutral scientific insight into how the Mind really works. Links and References: Evan Thompson's website Why I am not a Buddhist by Evan Thompson Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers by Kwame Anthony Appiah The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience by Francisco J. Varela, Evan T. Thompson, Eleanor Rosch Mind in Life: Biology, Phenomenology, and the Sciences of Mind by Evan Thompson discussed in BS 198 Waking, Dreaming, Being: Self and Consciousness in Neuroscience, Meditation, and Philosophy by Evan Thompson discussed in BS 115 Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts.   Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at textexpander.com/podcast BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/GINGER MasterClass at MasterClass.com/ginger Announcements: Please take a few minutes to complete this audience survey. Contact Dr. Campbell if you are interested a listener meet-up or sponsoring a talk by Dr. Campbell during her trip to Europe in April 2023. Get free gift "5 Things You Need to Know about YOUR Brain when you sign up for the free Brain ScienceNewsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the Brain Science podcast channel on YouTube Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com

This month's episode of Brain Science is a free encore playing of my interview with Evan Thompson about his book Mind in Life: Biology, Phenomenology, and the Sciences of Mind. We discuss how the enactive approach to embodied cognition offers potential clues to the mystery of how the brain can generate Consciousness. A free episode transcript is also available. This is the 2nd of two free encore episodes that are being shared to give listeners a taste of the diverse content available to Premium subscribers. Premium subscribers have access to over 100 additional episodes of Brain Science along with episode transcripts. The embodied cognition movement is an approach within cognitive neuroscience that includes philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists and computer scientists. The key idea is that cognition, which includes thinking and decision-making, is inseparable from embodiment. This is not just because it requires sensory inputs to the brain, but also because moving in the world is a key component. Thus embodied cognition does not see this as a passive input/output process, but as something that requires constant interaction with the world via the body. Links and References: Mind in Life: Biology, Phenomenology, and the Sciences of Mind by Evan Thompson The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience by Francisco J. Varela, Evan T. Thompson, Eleanor Rosch Waking, Dreaming, Being: Self and Consciousness in Neuroscience, Meditation, and Philosophy by Evan Thompson (follow-up interview BSP 115) Evan Thompson, PhD, University of British Columbia Please visit http://brainsciencepodcast.com for additional references and episode transcripts. Please Visit Our Sponsors: TextExpander at textexpander.com/podcast Wren at wren.co/brainscience Announcements: Submit audio feedback to be part of BS 200! Please visit brainsciencepodcast.com and let me know what you think of the updated website. Get free gift "5 Things You Need to Know about YOUR Brain when you sign up for the free Brain Science Newsletter to get show notes automatically every month. You can also text brainscience to 55444 to sign up. Check out the Brain Science podcast channel on YouTube  Support Brain Science by buying Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. (Autographed copies are available) Check out the free Brain Science Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Windows. (It's a great way to get both new episodes and premium content.) Learn more ways to support Brain Science at http://brainsciencepodcast.com/donations Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/brainsciencepodcast Contact Dr. Campbell: Email: brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com

Philosopher Evan Thompson and Dr. John Vervaeke discuss cognitive science, Asian philosophy, and mystical insights. They explore the essence of lived experience, relevance realization, and the nature of reality. The conversation delves into the crisis of meaning, performative contradictions in philosophy, uncovering the blind spot in perception, extended naturalism, modes of knowing, and restoring connection to the natural world.

Evan Thompson, professor of philosophy, discusses the importance of tolerating complexity in science, alternative epistemologies, philosophy as a way of life, and visions for Mind & Life Europe. The podcast explores integrating human experience into scientific inquiry, embracing interdisciplinary ideas, and philosophical dimensions of death and existential inquiry.

Evan Thompson, a philosophy professor, discusses the enactive approach, the nature of the mind, and human experience. He reflects on his intellectual journey, collaborations with Francisco Varela, and the impact of The Embodied Mind. The conversation touches on intersubjectivity, participatory knowing, and the blending of science and Buddhism in his work.

Cognitive scientist and philosopher Evan Thompson discusses his book 'Why I Am Not a Buddhist' and challenges the myth of Buddhist exceptionalism, the misinterpretation of the concept of no self, the interaction between science, Buddhism, and philosophy, recognizing ritualistic practices, and exploring death.

Philosopher, author, and meditator Evan Thompson discusses lucid dreaming, the 3-fold structure of awareness, the cosmopolitanism of Buddhism, consciousness hacking and psychedelics, and the embodied nature of meditation. They explore the relationship between awakening and consciousness, the framework of meditation and cognitive states, and the potential benefits and problems with consciousness hacking and psychedelics.