Poynter Lectures - April 2010

Photos by The Poynter Center

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"Neurons, Mechanism, and Freedom of the Will"

Lecture by Professor Adina Roskies

The lecture, “Neurons, Mechanism, and Freedom of the Will,” was delivered by professor Adina Roskies at Indiana University on April 9, 2010.

Adina Roskies is an assistant professor of Philosophy at Dartmouth College, where she has taught since 2004. She earned a PhD in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from University of California San Diego and a PhD in Philosophy from MIT. Her research interests include philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and ethics.

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Introduction by Prof. Colin Allen
Opening remarks by Prof. Roskies
Idea of freedom

Consequences of undermining our belief in freedom

Outline of lecture
Philosophical landscape of freedom

What is determinism?

Neuron's role in understanding the ability to make decisions
Examples of experiments with monkeys
MT and LIP neurons

Human decision-making
"What does this tell us about freedom?"

Neurons cannot answer the question of determinism
"Are neurons gonna be able to tell us anything relevant to the question of freedom?"
Mechanisms and freedom
Psychological aspects

Neuroscience in the future
Freedom and moral responsibility

Role of neurons
Blame-worthiness or praise-worthiness
Conclusion

Q & A session

"Moral and Amoral Neurobiology: The Roles of the Amygdala, Striatum and Orbital Frontal Cortex"

Lecture by Dr. James Blair

The lecture, “Moral and Amoral Neurobiology: The Roles of the Amygdala, Striatum and Orbital Frontal Cortex,” was delivered by Dr. James Blair at Indiana University Bloomington on April 28, 2010.

Dr. Blair received his Ph.D. in Psychology from University College London. He is the chief for the Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Introduction by Prof. Colin Allen

Dr. Blair's opening remarks
Outline of lecture
Focus on kids with conduct disorders

Basic environmental causes of antisocial behavior
Inheritability

Where genes must be expressed
Empathy impairment

Discussion of amygdale and orbitofrontal cortex (two regions of the brain)

Stimulus-enforcement based decision-making
Reversal learning paradigm

Standard socialization techniques
Summary

Q & A session