[evol-psych] The Convergence of Natural and Human Science (fwd)

Csaba Pleh Pleh Csaba Cognitive Science Group Megismerestudomanyi Csoport Department of Psychology Pszichologiai Tanszek University of Szeged Szegedi Tudomanyegyetem Szeged Petofi sgt 30-34, 6722 Hungary Telefon/Phone: (36)(62) 544691 Lakas/Home: Budakeszi Zichy P. u. 4 2092 Hungary (36)(23) 453932 or 933 Fax: (36(23)453932 Mobile: (0620) 3278922 WEB: http//www.jate.u-szeged.hu/~pleh www.cogsciszeged.deltav.hu Hungarian Review of Psychology Magyar Pszichologiai Szemle editor foszerkeszto ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 13:43:08 +0100 From: Ian Pitchford <ian.pitchford(a)scientist.com> To: evolutionary-psychology(a)egroups.com Subject: [evol-psych] The Convergence of Natural and Human Science UNITY OF KNOWLEDGE: The Convergence of Natural and Human Science http://www.nyas.org/scitech/contents/poster1.pdf A New York Academy of Sciences Conference June 23-25, 2000 The Rockefeller University New York City CO N F E R E N C E TH E M E Scientists are rapidly mapping the chemical and physical pathways that constitute biological systems, making the complexity of processes like inheritance, development, evolution, and even the origin of life increasingly tractable. Through genetics and neuroscience this is now being extended deeply into the human sciences and has begun to transform our understanding of behavior, mind, culture, and values. The idea of a science-driven unity of knowledge has re-emerged in several forms and in both reductionist and non-reductionist frameworks. This conference looks at some of the extraordinary empirical discoveries that have revived this idea and presents the reflections of some who have thought deeply about the implications. CO N F E R E N C E OR G A N I Z E R S Antonio R. Damasio, M.D., Ph.D. University of Iowa College of Medicine Iowa City, Iowa Anne Harrington, Ph.D. Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Jerome Kagan, Ph.D. Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Bruce McEwen, Ph.D. The Rockefeller University New York, New York PR O G R A M Friday Evening, June 23, 2000 The General Session will be held in Caspary Auditorium. 6:00-7:00 PM Registration Caspary Auditorium Foyer 7:00-9:00 PM Session I. OPENING SESSION 7:00 Welcoming Remarks Rodney W. Nichols 7:15 Keynote Address: Relation Between Science and the Humanities Edward O. Wilson, Ph.D. 8:00 Investigations: On the Nature of Autonomous Agents Stuart A. Kauffman, M.D. 8:30 Commentary Joshua Lederberg, Ph.D. 8:45 General Discussion Saturday, June 24, 2000 General Sessions will be held in Caspary Auditorium. Each paper includes 20 minutes for presentation followed by 10 minutes for discussion. 8:30-9:00 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast Caspary Auditorium Foyer 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Session II. BEYOND NATURE - NURTURE: GENES, BRAIN, BEHAVIOR Chair and Opening Presenter: Bruce McEwen, Ph.D. Biology involves the study of genes, regulation of the expression of those genes, and cellular and systemic physiology, including behavior. Studies in genetics, cell and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, neurobiology, endocrinology and psychology are converging to produce a new view of the interaction between genetic constitution and environmental influences. Work in sociology, anthropology, epidemiology and economics have also contributed to a broader understanding of human beings as social creatures, who create situations in which nature and nurture interact to influence physical and mental health. This panel will use anxiety and stress as a focus. Each discipline provides a glimpse of the whole story, and now is the time to put these separate views together. 9:00 Allostasis and Allostatic Load: Dialog Between Nature and Nurture Bruce McEwen, Ph.D. 9:30 Genes, Development, and Behavior Michael Meaney, Ph.D. 10:00 Do People Make Environments or Do Environments Make People? David C. Rowe, Ph.D. 10:30-11:00 AM: Intermission 11:00 How Natural Selection Shapes Mechanisms that Regulate Stress and Anxiety Randolph M. Nesse, M.D. 11:30 A Psychological Analysis of the Immune System Shlomo Breznitz, Ph.D. 12:00-1:00 PM Conference Luncheon Abby Lounge and Dining Room 1:00-3:00 PM Session III. EMOTION, COGNITION, AND THE HUMAN BRAIN Chair and Opening Presenter: Antonio R. Damasio, M.D., Ph.D. Research is showing deep connections between higher cognitive function, including language, and the structure and function of the brain. Reasoning is also being systematically tied to emotion, instinct, the sensorimotor system, and information processing mechanisms in the brain, and may go on, in large measure, unconsciously and with no clear center of control. How are we to understand man, the rational animal 1:00 Emotion, Feeling, and Knowing Antonio R. Damasio, M.D., Ph.D. 1:30 The Perspective From Brain Evolution John M. Allman, Ph.D. 2:00 Genes, Synapses, and Long-Term Memory Eric Kandel, M.D. 2:30 Language, Emotion, and the Human Brain Patricia K. Kuhl, Ph.D. 3:00-3:30 PM Intermission 3:30-5:30 PM Session IV. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Chair and Opening Presenter: Jerome Kagan, Ph.D. Social sciences from psychology to economics are undergoing constructive ferment in response to new insights provided by the natural sciences, and to the new analytical tools provided by imaging technologies, population modeling, information science, and genetic testing. Can a biologically-defined human nature do justice to the rich and often subtle notions of history, society and culture that are at issue in modern social science? How are social scientists responding to new developments in human biology? 3:30 The Significance of Transformations on Knowledge Jerome Kagan, Ph.D. 4:00 Toward a Biology of Personality and Emotion Richard Davidson, Ph.D. 4:30 Exploring the Biology of Socialization Michael I. Posner, M.D. 5:00 A Polytheistic Conception of the Sciences and the Virtues of Deep Variety Richard A. Shweder, Ph.D. 5:30-6:30 PM Wine & Cheese Reception Abby Lounge and Dining Room ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Sunday, June 25, 2000 General Sessions will be held in Caspary Auditorium. 9:30-10:00 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast Caspary Auditorium Foyer Session V. SCIENCE, CULTURE, MEANING, VALUES - A DIALOGUE Chair and Opening Presenter: Anne Harrington, Ph.D. As human science increasingly converges with natural science, human beings retain deeply-held values and ideas that resist scientific interpretation: a sense of free will, historical contingency, purpose, notions of beauty, meaning, faith, hope. Can this gap be closed? Panelists: Anne Harrington, Ph.D. Terrence Deacon, Ph.D. Stephen M. Kosslyn, Ph.D. Elaine Scarry, Ph.D. 12:00-1:00 PM: Conference Luncheon Abby Lounge and Dining Room 1:00-3:00 PM Session VI. SCIENCE IN THE LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM - A ROUNDTABLE Chair: Rodney W. Nichols To the extent that natural science contributes to our understanding of social science, humanities, and the arts, how can such knowledge be integrated in the institutional and educational process most committed to critical inquiry and extension of knowledge: the undergraduate liberal arts and sciences curriculum? 1:00 K-12 Science Education as the Road to Consilient Curricula Leon M. Lederman, Ph.D. 1:30 Integrative Learning: Passing Fad or Foundation for the Future Thomas R. Tritton, Ph.D. 2:00 Consilience, Evolution and Theodicy: Three Difficulties in Teaching Science to Non-Scientists. Robert Pollack 2:30 Roundtable Discussion (discussants will include selected speakers from prior sessions) 3:00-3:15 PM Closing Remarks 3:15 PM Adjourn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- CO N F E R E N C E SP E C I F I C S ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Conference Location The Rockefeller University Caspary Auditorium 1230 York Avenue (at 66th Street) New York, NY 10021 Accommodation Information Hotel accommodations have been arranged with the Barbizon New York Hotel, 140 East 63rd Street (at Lexington Avenue), tel. 1.212.838.5700. The Barbizon Hotel is located within a 10 minute walk of the Rockefeller University. A discounted room rate of $200 is available for a single (1 queen bed) or double (2 twin beds) occupancy. Rates are subject to 13.25% tax plus a $2.00 occupancy tax per room per night. 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