“Lost in the public’s romance with the brain is the most fundamental lesson neuroscience has to teach us: that the organ of our minds is a purely physical entity, conceptually and causally embedded in the natural world. Although the brain is required for almost everything we do, it never works alone. Instead, its function is inextricably linked to the body and to the environment around it. The interdependence of these factors is masked however by a cultural phenomenon I call the ‘cerebral mystique’ – a pervasive idealisation of the brain and its singular importance, which protects traditional conceptions about differences between mind and body, the freedom of will and the nature of thought itself.”
Tag: 05.08.18
Play Cancelled After Its Own Cast Complains That It’s ‘Racist’
“Originally called The Bold Knights of Britain, The Ununited Kingdom was being produced by theatre company Silent Uproar and was intended to shine a light on the rise of the far right in Britain, by focusing on a teenage girl who joins a gang with racist tendencies. … It was pulled after just two previews at Hull Truck and ahead of a planned run in London.” (And the whole business was even messier that that sounds.)
The Guardian Cuts Loose Theatre Writer Lyn Gardner After 23 Years
“Gardner’s contract, which ends on June 1, includes 130 reviews a year and 28,000 words of features. The critic and journalist, who is also associate editor at The Stage, was told the contract was being discontinued because the newspaper had decided she was not part of their long-term plans for theatre coverage.”
Let Paris Be The Safe Haven For Works Of Art From War Zones, Says Mayor
“The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has announced plans to turn the French capital into a ‘refuge’ for items worldwide at risk of destruction, placing endangered objects in storage in secure buildings owned by the city authorities.”