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Simon Brown

@simonabbrown.bsky.social
831 followers 812 following 89 posts

Philosopher of mind/cog sci studying animal minds, memory, consciousness, temporal representation, & implications for animal ethics/policy. Asst. Prof. @ Ashoka University, India

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Ben Heath @jbentonheath.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This is great. It articulates a lot of things that I and my colleagues have been trying to put together, but does it better and more clearly, and draws a clear line between the privatization of research funding, university self-governance, and faculty/worker organizing. Well done. 1/5
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Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · 29/09/2026
Mountain chickadees rely on spatial memory to forage in unpredictable environments and on song to defend their territories. Watch #ProcB author Sofia Haley talk about research that suggests overall song output may be an indicator of cognitive ability: cassyni.com/events/Mw4c4... #ecology
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Laura Danón @ldanon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
My entry on Animal Thought for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is now online! plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Wtaf is this question my university just asked me about my project?
Does the project involve any work that could be interpreted as promoting DEIA, climate change research, or non-compliant to any Presidential Executive Orders?
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Alex Holcombe @alexh.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If we have to call them Type 1 / 2 instead of false positive and false negative, use this mnemonic: the boy who cried wolf caused both Type I & Il errors, in that order.
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Frances Egan @francesegan.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Chris Hill's review of my book in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/defl...
ndpr.nd.edu
Deflating Mental Representations
I found this book illuminating. A font of fresh ideas, it challenges the currently dominant Representational Theory of Mind and develops an alternative account…
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Anil Seth @anilseth.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
1/ Conscious AI and Biological Naturalism. A long time in the making, but the full collection is *out now* in Behavioural and Brain Sciences I deeply thank all my many commentators for their wise, broad, and deep opinions on this critical topic.I also thank them for their saintly patience. 🙏🏽
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Steve Fleming @smfleming.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
📖 New review out today in @natrevneuro.nature.com: Towards an integrative neuroscience of metacognition 🧠🧪 Full-text link to the paper is here: rdcu.be/9YK3mF7dYhFa
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Gabriel Bodard @palaeofuturist.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
RIP 847 years ago Hildegarde von Bingen, abbess, mystic, theologian, musical composer, astronomer, pharmacist and doctor, and among many other things inventor/discoverer of the sacred language “Lingua ignota”, who died #onthisday in 1179 CE. (Pictured, her conception of the world as a "cosmic egg")
A brightly coloured manuscript image of an oval-shaped world containing stars or flowers and surrounded by feathers or leaves, with a hole in the middle and a particularly prominent florescence towards the top. Grotesque faces or masks illuminate the left, right and bottom edges.
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Anna Alexandrova @annaalexandrova.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Happy birthday, Marquis! So amazing to think that his voting theorems were forgotten until Arrow rediscovered them independently.
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Christopher Honey @chrishoney.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
1/ How do we sustain mental continuity in the face of interruption? @xianl-explorer.bsky.social found that, while people listen to a story, posterior medial cortex expresses a slowly evolving "background" representation of the story's context, which survived through silence and interfering tasks.
A schematic figure showing an evolving timeline of mental context during an interrupted narrative.
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Chaz Firestone @chazfirestone.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Out today! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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The India Forum @theindiaforum.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
India’s race to build data centres is reshaping the country’s power system, raising difficult questions about energy, water and public resources. M. Rajshekhar writes www.theindiaforum.in/environment/...
theindiaforum.in
The Looming Energy and Water Burden of India’s Data Centres
India’s race to build data centres is reshaping the country’s power system, raising difficult questions about energy, water and public resources.
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Chris Krupenye @chriskrupenye.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🚨 PhD position in human, nonhuman primate, and/or dog cognition! I am thrilled to be reviewing applicants this year for a new PhD student to join the Social & Cognitive Origins Group in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins @jhu.edu @jhuartssciences.bsky.social 1/
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Adrian Currie @adrian-currie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Methods in the Philosophy of Science: A User's Guide, edited by the inestimable @phieveigl.bsky.social (and me!), has 27 chapters from super-cool philosophers of science explaining how they do their thing, and is now open access! Our baby is free! #philsci direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edi...
direct.mit.edu
Methods in the Philosophy of Science: A User's Guide
A guidebook to methods and methodology, encouraging deeper engagement across the philosophy of science and beyond.The last twenty years have seen multiple
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Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 07/09/2026
Yelling "stop the boats!" as I charge in to rob this NatWest at gun point so that I can later call the Home Secretary as a character witness and the BBC will spend two weeks telling all my potential future jurors how legitimate my concerns were.
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David Frew @drvon2.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Facts like this are the main reason people should be on BlueSky
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Thomas Spiteri @tespiteri.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I enjoyed speaking to Dr Jahnavi Phalkey about India’s place in the history of modern science, the ways in which that history has been constructed, & how the pursuit of nuclear physics became intertwined with a newly independent nation’s efforts to define its own identity. linktr.ee/thehpspodcast
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Evan Westra @evanwestra.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Another exciting new addition to the philosophy of social norms: Simon Fitzpatrick @simonfitzpatrick.bsky.social 's new SEP article on Animal Normativity: plato.stanford.edu/entries/anim...
plato.stanford.edu
Animal Normativity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
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Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
On this day in 2018. Kieran @kjhealy.co ‘s obituary will include the MacArthur essay and “Fuck Nuance,” but for a particular niche audience of connoisseurs, this is his masterpiece.
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Simon Brown @simonabbrown.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Is it unfair to suspect that this Indian market research company is secretly connected to Palantir?
Screenshot from the website of Mordor Intelligence describing the Mordor Advantage in Distributed Expertise, Strategic Location, and Flash Delivery
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elisa freschi @elisafreschi.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
#PhilosophyJobs
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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 14/08/2026
Two married professors and their son are being held in ICE detention, despite being legal permanent residents and having no criminal records. All, apparently, because their mom/MIL was a translator for the Iranian hostage takers in 1979, before they were even born. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
thenation.com
One Woman’s Message From the Hell of ICE Detention
My husband, son, and I have been locked up for months—despite being permanent residents with no criminal record. It is an unendurable, unending nightmare.
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Dr Karen Pinder 🇨🇦 🔬 @drkarenpinder.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Yeppers. I am no longer going to conferences in the U.S. And I am not alone.
insidehighered.com
Detentions of International Scholars at Airports Raise Alarm
A Johns Hopkins University researcher was detained at an airport by immigration officials and later released. Cases like hers make travel fraught for foreign scholars.
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Elizabeth Lopatto @lopatto.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I see a lot of you talking about "dopamine" and I wish you'd go back to talking about your astrological signs because at least then you wouldn't be confusing yourself about a real thing
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Franz Berto @franzberto.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Philosophers, spread the word! The next Special Issue of The Philosophical Quarterly will be 'Philosophy and Climate Change' - Guest Editor Stephen Gardiner, call for papers here: academic.oup.com/pq/pages/cal...
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Nicholas D Carter @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
A trillion insects are farmed now/yr, some emit as much as beef (mostly via temp control), & it's an inefficient feed conversion rate. They also have major risks, like largely inevitable escapes of invasive species. It's a bad idea. My analysis for Project Drawdown: drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
drawdown.org
Deploy Insect Farming for Food and Feed
Insect Farming for Food and Feed is not recommended as a climate solution because it offers minimal opportunities for GHG reductions and has significant downsides.
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John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Aquamanile in the Form of Aristotle & Phyllis late 14th or early 15th century South Netherlandish (Met Museum) Tableware explainer: Aristotle, tutor of Alexander the Great, allowed himself to be humiliated by Phyllis as a lesson to the young ruler.
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Bruno J. Navarro @brunojnavarro.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The largest privately held company in the United States is refusing to concede to workers’ demands for more dignified workplace conditions, including protected bathroom breaks.
sentientmedia.org
Over 1,700 Cargill Meatpacking Workers Locked Out After Demanding Bathroom Breaks
The largest privately held company in the United States is refusing to concede to workers’ demands for more dignified workplace conditions, including protected bathroom breaks.
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Jeff Colgan @jeffcolgan.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Now opening nominations for the Best Image of Climate Politics in a Nutshell 🌎
Couple under a beach umbrella watch a smoke cloud
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Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Absolutely wild. Read that again: the *actual* costs of *just wildfire smoke* are higher than the currently projected costs of *all climate impacts combined*.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Taken together, these rules are expected to add significant red tape for foreign students, researchers, and international journalists — and significant costs as well. DHS's own estimate is that the rule will impose costs to U.S. and non-U.S. parties of up to $443 million a year.
DHS has prepared a full analysis according to E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563, which can be found in the docket for this rulemaking or by searching for RIN 1653-AA95 on www.regulations.gov. Table 1 presents the accounting statement as required by Circular A-4 for total impacts of the rule. The proposed rule would have a quantified annualized cost ranging from $443.1 million to $448.6 million (with 3- and 7-percent discount rates, respectively) when considering U.S. and non-U.S. parties. When considering U.S. parties only, annual costs would range from $119.9 million to $125.1 million (with 3- and 7- percent discount rates, respectively).
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Matthias Michel @matthiasmichel.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Now officially published: our paper "Sensory horizons and the functions of conscious vision" w/ @smfleming.bsky.social, with the commentaries, and our response: Article: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... Commentaries: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... Response: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org
Sensory horizons and the functions of conscious vision | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Cambridge Core
Sensory horizons and the functions of conscious vision - Volume 49
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Simon Brown @simonabbrown.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The Mayor of London is being made a Lord. No one seems to be addressing how this will affect the completely distinct office of Lord Mayor of London (currently Lady Mayor)
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Susana Monsó @susanamonso.com · 15/07/2026
Delighted to learn that our project 'Ecological validity in comparative cognitive science' (co-led by @segundo-ortin.bsky.social and yours truly) has been funded! 👇
A picture of a woman and a man, somewhere in Shanghai, drinking liquorice tea from what looks like two serum bags. They look friendly and slightly mischievous.
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Barbara Klump @barbaraklump.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Join us in Vienna! We are looking for a PhD student and a Postdoc to investigate innovation in corvids within the “Comparative ecological innovation styles” project funded by @fwf-at.bsky.social. More info: barbaraklump.com Application deadline July 24th. Please share widely!
A carrion crow holding a walnut. Photo: @valentine-comin.bsky.social
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Monday is the deadline for public comment! The Heritage Foundation has been mobilizing its members to leave comments in favor of the rule change, so every unique comment matters (don’t use a form letter or copy/paste—similar comments are batched and treated as one).
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Liran Samuni @lirsamuni.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🐒 Work with primates? Have you observed 3 or more individuals grooming together? Polyadic grooming is barely documented and we know little about its distribution. Please take 1–2 minutes to fill out this short survey and share: forms.gle/cLPB1mnwrjJo...
forms.gle
Polyadic grooming in primates
survey about observations of polyadic grooming in primate species
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Rishika Pardikar @rishpardikar.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
At Bonn climate talks, India urged "care and clarity" (as per ENB) in how the term 'tipping points' is used. European Union muddied the waters by raising concerns about misinformation. Tried unpacking the science of tipping points, what we know and what we do not www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/ene...
thehindu.com
India urges clarity as ‘tipping points’ rock Bonn climate talks
India calls for clear definitions of ‘tipping points’ at Bonn climate talks, challenging misconceptions amid EU's claims of misinformation.
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Steve Fleming @smfleming.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Lovely to see the full range of excellent commentaries on our BBS article with @matthiasmichel.bsky.social, together with our response, now out: Target article: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... Commentaries: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... Our response: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org
Sensory horizons and the functions of conscious vision | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Cambridge Core
Sensory horizons and the functions of conscious vision - Volume 49
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Helen Czerski @helenczerski.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Londoners, there is a webpage for you to see where your nearest "cool spaces" are when the extreme heat hits - places with water, air-conditioning & shade. Have a look and spread the word, especially to those who may need this but might not think to look for it: apps.london.gov.uk/cool-spaces/
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Bele Wollesen @belewollesen.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
"The Condorcet Jury Theorem under Ambiguity" is the first paper I worked on in grad school. Now it is finally out in Ergo, check it out: journals.publishing.umich.edu/ergo/article... Special thank you to @lastpositivist.bsky.social and @becklukas.bsky.social for their comments and encouragement.
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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
This is flat wrong from Unite. It’s just not true there’s been ‘almost no thought for jobs, skills and national security’. There’s been a huge amount of thought on all these issues and a decision has been made that jobs, skills, and security all benefit from a faster clean energy transition.
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Jake Quilty-Dunn @quiltydunn.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
A new paper, forthcoming in PPR: Visual Icons This paper took me more than 5 years to write. It argues that the visual system constructs imagistic representations ("visual icons") and sketches a theory of how visual icons, and iconic representations generally, are compositionally structured.
philpapers.org
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Ishan Singhal @singhal.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
If our experiences unfold like a stream over time, how would this stream unfold in other animal species? Together with @birchlse.bsky.social and @anilseth.bsky.social, a review of temporal illusions and a path for temporal phenomenology in animals! a 🧵/n www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
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Mongabay @mongabay.com · 18/06/2026
In a global milestone, Peru’s Satipo and Nauta-Loreto regions have recognized native stingless bees as rights-bearing entities. Backed by a 2025 national law, the framework allows legal action to shield critical pollinators from deforestation and pesticides. Liz Kimbrough reports for #Mongabay.
mongabay.cc
Stingless bees in Peru become the first insects with legal rights. Will it happen globally?
Two municipalities in the Peruvian Amazon have granted native stingless bees the legal right to exist, thrive and be represented in court. This is the first time any insect has been recognized as a…
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Grace Lindsay @neurograce.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
I've seen a lot of info for specialized audiences (e.g. scientists, non-profits) on how to comment on the proposed OMB rule change for grants, but less for the general public. So I made this one-pager that can be shared more widely. docs.google.com/document/d/e...
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Michael Okun @michael-okun.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Over the last month I saw that human editors are now stripped of control. I could no longer stop the system from auto-inviting "reviewers" with zero relevant expertise. Even worse - the AI began actively revoking the invitations I manually sent out to actual, qualified experts.
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hakwan lau @hakwan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
for students in mainland China who are interested in neuroscience & philosophy, what platform do they use to get updates? if a Chinese prof is to have a blog w/ regular posts, which platform would be the best for reaching the students? little red book? something else?
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