MindGrad Conference

For the past five years, the University of Warwick has held a graduate conference in the philosophy of mind  called—surprisingly enough—MindGrad. It is (or so I am told) normally organised by second year Ph.D. students working in that general area, and seeing as I was the only new philosophy of mind Ph.D. student starting at Warwick this year, it has fallen me to organise this year’s conference. Not that I mind, you understand, as it’s a great opportunity to invite some top notch philosophers to come and speak on topics relating to my research, and the range of graduate papers on offer at last year’s conference was excellent.

The conference itself is scheduled for the first weekend in December (5th–6th), and I’m happy to say that both keynote speakers have now confirmed. They are Alva Noë, who works on phenomenology, philosophy of cognitive science, embodiment, extended mind and consciousness, and Tim Crane, philosopher of mind and perception, Head of Department at UCL and soon to be Knightbridge Professor at the University of Cambridge. Both will, I’m sure, be excellent and I’m really looking forward to some fascinating discussions of graduate papers in light of their considerable experience and philosophical work.

I’m planning to send out the first call for papers out shortly. Speakers will have approximately 45 minutes speaking time (4,000–5,000 words max.), plus the same again for discussion, on any topic in or relating to the philosophy of mind, broadly construed. Further details of the programme and registration process will be posted on the web closer to the time and I intend to issue regular updates on the progress of the conference via Twitter (follow @MindGrad) and Facebook (group link to follow). Details of previous years’ conferences can be found here.

I would strongly encourage any graduate students working (or planning to work) in philosophy of mind or related areas to attend, and if possible to submit a paper as we hope to offer several bursaries to cover the travel costs of people’s whose papers didn’t quite make it, but who we would like to attend the conference nonetheless. Not only is it a great chance to get feedback on your work from other graduates, the keynote speakers and members of the faculty here at Warwick, many of whom are working in this subject area, but it’s also great fun. Look forward to seeing you there!