In this essay, sorry, podcast, Neil Kenny, specialist in French literature and society in the 16th and 17th centuries opens us the period in which Montaigne composed his 'essais', first published in 1580, before talking about the man himself, including his education (he only spoke Latin for the first six years of his life - an educational experiment of his dad). Neil had suggested a number of chapters that might coincide with the notion of proto-psychology and Ken was especially excited by 'On practising' which includes a detailed account of a head injury and it's aftermath experienced shortly before his withdrawal from the world. After opening up that one to talk about his chapter 'On imagination' with surprising insights into mind-body interactions. After a number of examples we talk about cannibals, the instability of conclusions (I may not be the same person tomorrow) and the cognitive means by which the mind's workings may best be traced. To conclude this episode Neil reads a favourite passage from his chapter 'On repentance'. Great conversation about an extraordinary writer.

Participants:

Neil Kenny is professor of French at the University of Oxford and a research fellow of All Souls College https://www.asc.ox.ac.uk/people/professor-neil-kenny

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

More on Michel de Montaigne: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_de_Montaigne

His Essays: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essays_(Montaigne)

'How to read Montaigne ' by Terrance Cave is a great introduction: https://granta.com/products/how-to-read-montaigne/:

Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Instagram: #brainlandpodcast #brainlandcollective

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In this episode cultural historian Mike Jay shares some of the stories in his new book 'Wireheads'. Our conversation ranges from an eighteenth century Bedlam patient to Elon Musk's 'Neurolink' along the way taking in Havana syndrome and direct energy weapons, the shifting notion of delusion, hoped for effects of electricity on child intelligence, and a variety of doctors who, over the years, have thought it a good idea to put wires into the brain, often with infamous results. We discuss how societal currents, such as increasing violence in the US in the late 60s and early '70s, drove research and theorising at that point, especially the work of Mark and Ervin on violence. Along the way we hear about neurodildos and God helmets. In short, ideal subjects for 'Brainland' - really interesting chat and an engaging book.

Participants:

Mike Jay is a writer and cultural historian. https://mikejay.net/

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Mike's book 'Wireheads': https://mikejay.net/books/wireheads/

The earlier related 'Brainland' episodes

William Grey Walter: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/grey-walter

Neuromancer: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/neuromancer

Brain implants: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/brave-new-worlds-introducing-the-neural-interface

Brainhacking: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/brainhacking

Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Instagram: #brainlandpodcast #brainlandcollective

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his book 'The Pattern Seekers' Sir Simon proposes that what has made us successful as a species is our ability to see patterns, 'systemise' and create 'if, then, and' sequences that have enabled us to invent and experiment also and how this ability relates to autism. Our conversation travels from a 40 thousand year old tuned bone flute to creating 'neuro-affirmative' environments in schools and work. Along the way we discuss why Eindhoven has double the rates of childhood autism than other equivalent Dutch cities, what was gleaned from 20 thousand Danish samples of amniotic fluid, why autistic people are the opposite of sociopaths, why some parents of autistic kids dislike the term 'neurodiversity' and much more. A great conversation and the last of a quartet on the autism themes this season (see the links below).

Participants

Sir Simon Baron Cohen is professor of developmental psychopathology, and the director of the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/people/simon-baron-cohen/

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Simon's book 'The Pattern Seekers': https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/289738/the-pattern-seekers-by-baron-cohen-simon/9780141982397

The other autism themed conversations this season:

Dame Uta Frith: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/hans-asperger-and-the-autistic-spectrum-reflecting-on-past-p

Alice Jolly (whose terrific novel 'The Matchbox Girl' has since won the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction): https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/recreating-hans-aspergers-world-the-matchbox-irl

Rajesh Kana on the autistic brain: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/exploring-the-autistic-brain

Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Instagram: #brainlandcollective

Sketch by KB

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.