Date

December 8th, 13:30-17:00   Registration starts at 12:30

Aim

The IIAS Lecture entitled ”Evolutionary Origins of Human Mind” is open to the public, held in University of Tokyo, Tokyo, on December 8th. The public lecture will have three speakers as follows: Giacomo Rizzolatti (University of Parma, Italy) who discovered “mirror neurons” two decades ago, which is one of the most significant discoveries in science connecting the brain and the mind, Atsushi Iriki (RIKEN, Japan) who has created a new concept of “cognitive niche construction” through his neuroscience approach to the tool-use learning in monkeys, and Frans de Waal (Emory University, USA), who tries to elucidate the human mind from his ethological viewpoint by stressing “empathy” that is widely recognized in non-human animals. We introduce the issue of kokoro, the human mind, from a broad perspective from neuroscience, cognitive science, and ethology. The session is co-chaired by William McGrew from Cambridge University, UK., and Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University. Toshikazu Hasegawa of University of Tokyo will have the welcome address.

Program

Venue & Access