Tag Archives: philosophy

Phenomenology: What is it and why should you care?

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Administrator

Would a sentient fish ever wonder what water is? Do you ever wonder what time is? Probably not: Some aspects of our experience are so ‘obvious’ that we just don’t notice them. Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that aims to … Continue reading →

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Samhain: Feast of the Dead

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Administrator

Tonight is the Pagan festival of Samhain, more commonly celebrated as Halloween. At Samhain Pagans celebrate our ancestors & beloved dead. It also offers an opportunity to meditate on our mortality, a fundamental aspect of embodiment which arguably makes life … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion and spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Stupidity of Rationalism

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Administrator

Last weeks edition of ‘In Our Time’ (BBC Radio 4) discussed game theory and gave a telling account of a scenario called The Prisoners Dilemma. Imagine that Jo and Jack have been arrested for a crime. The police know they’re guilty but can’t prove it, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Cognitive science | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Eugene Gendlin

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Administrator

Writing a PhD thesis on embodied knowing was a tricky task and at times I doubted that I could research something so nebulous. My big breakthrough came when I read the work of contemporary philosopher and psychologist Eugene Gendlin. Gendlin … Continue reading →

Posted in Key ideas | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Merleau-Ponty

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Administrator

This is the first of a series of posts that introduce thinkers who have been especially influential on my work. I begin with the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961), who was a pioneer in the study of embodiment. Merleau-Ponty was fascinated by our ‘being-in-the-world’ – the way … Continue reading →

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London’s burning

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Administrator

Ubuntu is an African word which can be inadequately translated as ‘humanness’. It may, in fact, be untranslatable, but the principle is expressed in the African saying: ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ – ‘A person is a person through other persons’. One of the most influential Western philosophers claimed that … Continue reading →

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What is the body?

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Administrator

What do somatic trainers talk about on a week-end get together? One hot topic was exploring what the body might be. We had a brainstorm on that topic one evening and selected our best one-liners for broadcast. This playful exercise suggests that there … Continue reading →

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Descartes revisited

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Administrator

My previous post (Descartes’ stove: Philosophers and place) had more responses than any before it. Although there was only one blog comment, there’s been a lively conversation over on my Facebook page. I want to pick up on two themes of that discussion: Am … Continue reading →

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Descartes’ stove: Philosophers and place

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Administrator

Descartes is considered to be the father of modern philosophy. No wonder we’re in such a mess! You’re probably familiar with his theory, but to recap: Descartes considered the possibility that some very powerful, cunning and malicious demon might be deceiving him. He reasons that there … Continue reading →

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Cognitive science: a multi-discipline

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Administrator

Human cognition is a complex business and researching it calls on wide range of disciplines. A conservative estimate gives us a motley crew of 7: Biology Chemistry Psychology Information science Philosophy Anthropology Linguistics It’s a delightful mix of hard and soft sciences, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cognitive science | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment