Thursday 18 October 2012 at 6.30

Edmond J. Safra Lecture Theatre, Strand Campus, King's College London

Neuroscientific models of the mind have tended to prioritize cognition, rational choice and decision making. Contemporary philosophers have also focussed in on consciousness. Meanwhile writers, artists and psychoanalysts have often found such models too limited and stressed the unconscious work the mind does and the sheer complexity of the inner life. Recently, however, neuroscience has begun to consider the activity of the mind in resting state and question whether our choices are in fact conscious. Neuroscientist Patrick Haggard presents a short film on his research on involuntary action and how we make choices and discusses this with Cambridge philosopher of mind, Tim Crane, playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker, and director Declan Donnellan. Simon McBurney, founder of the famous Complicité theatre participates on film. Lisa Appignanesi, writer and convenor of the series, chairs.

This discussion is part of the Arts and Humanities Festival at King's College London' – see this page, to book please visit http://ahfest2012.eventbrite.co.uk/.