From: Anderson, Jami <
jamia@umflint.edu
Current autism research accepts with little critical analysis Simon
Baron-Cohen's claim that autism is caused by what he refers to as the
extreme male brain. He defines the male brain as "systematizing" rather
than "empathizing" which, according to him,is the essence of the female
brain. I encourage feminist scholars to critically assess not only the
implications of accepting the notion of gendered brains as defining and
driving autism research, but also the social implications of these ideas
in general. If these issues are of interest to you, please consider
joining us this summer at this summer seminar as we critically examine
the neuroscience behind the claims that autism is, largely, the failure
to empathize.Please pass along to anyone you believe may be interested..
________________________________
Below is a Call for Proposals for participating in the 1st Annual Autism Summer Seminar launched by the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics, July 14-17 2015.
This year's topic is Mirror Neurons, Empathy and Autism. Faculty Instructor will be Dr. Gregory Hickok, professor of Cognitive Sciences, University of California-Irvine. Thanks to generous support from the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics and the Philosophy Department of Universityof Michigan-Flint, seminar participants will not have to pay for residential housing at UM-Flint, registration fee or meals during seminar meetings. Deadline for submitting a proposal is May 21st 2015. For further details,please see below, or contact me. Pass this along to anyone you believe maybe interested.
Dr. Jami Anderson
Philosophy Department,UM-Flint
co-director of the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics
Summer Seminar Mirror Neurons, Empathy and Autism
July 14–17,2015
website cognethic.org/summer.html
Faculty Instructor Dr.Gregory Hickok, Professor Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, author of "The Myth of Mirror Neurons: The Real Neuroscience of Communication and Cognition"
Call for Proposals This brief but intense summer seminar will provide participants with the opportunity to critically examine research concerning mirror neurons as well as the role mirror neurons have come to play in providing an explanation of a variety of psychological phenomena, in particular the role mirror neurons are alleged to play in the foundations of autism. The summer seminar will provide a formal occasion and central location for philosophers and scholars from various disciplines from around the world to work together to critically analyze the neuroscience research of mirror neurons,as well as the implications that research has had in how autism is now conceptualized and treated.Participants from a wide range of disciplines and professions are encouraged to apply. Please send a 1000–1200 word proposal clearly stating how your current research interests align with the focus of this seminar.
Through generous support from CCN and the University of Michigan-Flint Philosophy Department, the costs for staff support, housing and meals during seminar sessions will be waived. Participants need only cover their own travelcosts and evening meals.
To submit a proposal or for further information, please contact Dr. Jami L Anderson, Philosophy Department, University ofMichigan-Flint, co-director of Center for Cognition and Neuroethics, anderson@cognition.org.The CCN Summer Seminar is a new program under the auspices of the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics (CCN) that brings together scholars interested in creating well-reasoned and ethically sound research concerning the meaning, causes and social and individual implications of experiencing autism. The Summer Seminar: Autism organizing committee will select presenters on the basis of the quality of proposals and their assumed ability to contribute to a well-rounded, and intellectually rewarding seminar experience for all participants. Summer Seminar: Autism upholds CCN's larger mission, that of supporting interdisciplinary projects in order to break down barriers that exist not only between scholarly disciplines but that surround professions. We support research activities across multiple fields and professions by creating,fostering, and supporting collaborations and communication across professional spheres.CCN is a joint venture between the Philosophy Department at the University of Michigan-Flint and the Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience (IINN). CCN supports interdisciplinary research with the conviction that the skills and knowledge that scholars from different disciplines bring toa partnership enrich and inform the others, creating unique, synergistic research that would not be possible in an isolated disciplinary environment.
