Olga Markic | University of Ljubljana (original) (raw)
Papers by Olga Markic
Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 2004
In his book Elements of Mind, Tim Crane gives us a very clear and interesting introduction to the... more In his book Elements of Mind, Tim Crane gives us a very clear and interesting introduction to the main problems in the philosophy of mind. The central theme of his book is intentionality, but he also gives an account of the mind-body problem, consciousness, and perception, and then he suggests his own solutions to these problems. In this paper I will concentrate on a part in which he discusses the mind-body problem. My main aim will be to look at different physicalistic positions in relation to the mental causation problem, particularly at emergentism as Crane's favourite position.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2009
Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best wa... more Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best way to achieve the goal. Investigations from different areas of cognitive science have shown that human decisions and actions are much more influenced by intuition and emotional responses then it was previously thought. In this paper I examine the role of emotion in decision making, particularly Damasio's hypothesis of somatic markers and Green's dual process theory of moral judgment. I conclude the paper with the discussion of the threat that deliberation and conscious rationality is an illusion.
Grazer Philosophische Studien
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2017
The article explores two waves of active externalism. I first introduce the distinction between p... more The article explores two waves of active externalism. I first introduce the distinction between passive and active externalism and analyse a proposal of active externalism based on the principle of parity proposed by Clark and Chalmers. There are two main obstacles, causal-constitution fallacy and cognitive bloat, that threaten the extended cognition hypothesis. The second wave of discussions based on the complementarity principle deals with cognitive systems with feedback loops between internal and external elements and is a more radical departure from functionalism and traditional thinking about cognition. I conclude with some remarks on potential ethical considerations of extended cognition.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, Oct 31, 2012
The author discusses the problem of integration of first-and third-person approaches in studying ... more The author discusses the problem of integration of first-and third-person approaches in studying the human mind. She critically evaluates and compares various methodologies for studying and explaining conscious experience. Common strategies that apply reductive explanation seem to be unsatisfied for explaining experience and its subjective character. There were attempts to explain experience from the first-person point of view (introspectionism, philosophical phenomenology) but the results were not intersubjectively verifiable. Dennett proposed heterophenomenology as a scientifically viable alternative which supposed to bridge the gap between first-and third-person perspectives. The author critically evaluates his proposal and compares it to contemporary attempts to provide first-person methods.
Balkan Journal of Philosophy, 2018
In the following article we first present the growing trend of incorporating neuroscience into th... more In the following article we first present the growing trend of incorporating neuroscience into the law, and the growing acceptance of and trust in neuroscience's mechanistic and reductionistic explanations of the human mind. We then present and discuss some studies that show how nudging peoples' beliefs about matters related to human agency (such as free will, decision-making, or self-control) towards a more deterministic, mechanistic and/or reductionistic conception, exerts an influence on their very actions, mentality, and brain processes. We suggest that the neuroscientific view of the human mind exerts an influence on the very cognitive phenomena neuroscience falsely believes to be studying objectively. This holds especially when we consider the systematic integration of neuroscience into the public domain, such as the law. For, such an integration acts as a reinforcement of the public's and legal decision-makers' endorsement of and trust in neuroscience's view of human nature that further changes how people think and act. Such looping effects of neurolaw are probably inevitable. Accordingly, we should be aware of the scope of neuroscientific explanations and be careful not to overstate neuroscientific evidence and findings in legal contexts.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems Scientific Journal, 2009
Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best wa... more Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best way to achieve the goal. Investigations from different areas of cognitive science have shown that human decisions and actions are much more influenced by intuition and emotional responses then it was previously thought. In this paper I examine the role of emotion in decision making, particularly Damasio's hypothesis of somatic markers and Green's dual process theory of moral judgment. I conclude the paper with the discussion of the threat that deliberation and conscious rationality is an illusion.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2015
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2013
New tools and methods for investigating the brain have given neuroscientists a chance to examine ... more New tools and methods for investigating the brain have given neuroscientists a chance to examine the working brain and placed neuroscience as the central discipline in cognitive science. My main goal in this article is to examine theoretical and philosophical assumptions on which different understandings and interpretations of neuroscientific research are based and to show why philosophical reflection on neuroscience is needed. I first discuss different roles philosophy potentially plays in cognitive science. After a short presentation of Descartes' position concerning the mind body problem and cognitive science approaches to answer his challenge, I examine different theoretical frameworks for neuroscientific research.
Ars & Humanitas, 2012
Ključne besede: fi lozofi ja športa, igra, kognitivna znanost, utelešena kognicija, fenomenalna z... more Ključne besede: fi lozofi ja športa, igra, kognitivna znanost, utelešena kognicija, fenomenalna zavest Naj sestavek začnem s priznanjem, da se s športom v taki ali drugačni obliki ukvarjam že vse od otroštva. Z njim sta povezana zame magična predmeta kolo in žoga, z njim je povezan občutek svobode, pa tudi spoznanja, da je svet lahko krivičen in neprijazen. Na treningih in tekmah sem se naučila, kako pomembno je vztrajati in se ne predati. Šport me je pripeljal do močnih občutkov sreče, zadovoljstva in tovarištva, pa tudi žalosti in besa. Čeprav sem treninge in tekmovanja v določenih obdobjih jemala zelo resno in so bili tudi rezultati kar spodbudni, pa se tekmovalnemu športu zares nisem bila nikoli pripravljena podrediti. Pomemben razlog je verjetno dejstvo, da tekmovalni šport zahteva popolno osredotočenost, podrejanje urnikov in stila življenja, kar se mi je kot mladenki, željni spoznavanja sveta, zdelo prevelika cena. Moje razmišljanje o tekmovalnem, vedno bolj profesionalnem športu je postalo zelo kritično in za nekaj časa sem odpisala vse institucionalne oblike športa, vključno z velikimi športnimi dogodki. Še naprej sem uživala v različnih zvrsteh gibanja v naravi in si slikala romantično podobo športa, ki pa se seveda ni ujemala s stvarnostjo. Šport je postal moj skrbno varovan del prostega časa. Mladostna kritičnost se je kasneje obrusila in danes z veseljem pogledam televizijski prenos atletskega mitinga, košarkarske tekme ali kakega drugega zanimivega športnega dogodka. A precej raje kot pasivna gledalka sem aktivna, saj mi to prinaša vedno nove zanimive izkušnje.
The remarkable development of neuroscience in the past three decades (the so-called “neuroscienti... more The remarkable development of neuroscience in the past three decades (the so-called “neuroscientific revolution”) has had a tremendous impact on our understanding of ourselves and the world. The slow, but persistent spread of neuroscience into humanities, social sciences, and everyday life has prompted several authors to critically examine and reassess some of its far-reaching claims, along with its methods of collecting, organising and interpreting data. It has been increasingly pointed out that there is a profound difference between what neuroscience purports to explain and what it actually does and can explain, and that therefore a better understanding of conceptual, methodological, and metaphysical presuppositions of neuroscience is needed. The goal of this article is to provide a small contribution to this vast critical endeavour, focusing particularly on the prominent modular hypothesis, i.e. the idea that the mind consists of a plethora of different cognitive functions (modules) and that these are somehow instantiated or realised in discrete brain regions. After delineating some of the major shortcomings of the modular thesis, the article goes on to argue that it is essential for neuroscience to become better acquainted with its underlying assumptions, and that a platform for constructive and engaged dialogue with other areas of research is needed.
Books by Olga Markic
Aristej (publisher), 2021
Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 2004
In his book Elements of Mind, Tim Crane gives us a very clear and interesting introduction to the... more In his book Elements of Mind, Tim Crane gives us a very clear and interesting introduction to the main problems in the philosophy of mind. The central theme of his book is intentionality, but he also gives an account of the mind-body problem, consciousness, and perception, and then he suggests his own solutions to these problems. In this paper I will concentrate on a part in which he discusses the mind-body problem. My main aim will be to look at different physicalistic positions in relation to the mental causation problem, particularly at emergentism as Crane's favourite position.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2009
Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best wa... more Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best way to achieve the goal. Investigations from different areas of cognitive science have shown that human decisions and actions are much more influenced by intuition and emotional responses then it was previously thought. In this paper I examine the role of emotion in decision making, particularly Damasio's hypothesis of somatic markers and Green's dual process theory of moral judgment. I conclude the paper with the discussion of the threat that deliberation and conscious rationality is an illusion.
Grazer Philosophische Studien
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2017
The article explores two waves of active externalism. I first introduce the distinction between p... more The article explores two waves of active externalism. I first introduce the distinction between passive and active externalism and analyse a proposal of active externalism based on the principle of parity proposed by Clark and Chalmers. There are two main obstacles, causal-constitution fallacy and cognitive bloat, that threaten the extended cognition hypothesis. The second wave of discussions based on the complementarity principle deals with cognitive systems with feedback loops between internal and external elements and is a more radical departure from functionalism and traditional thinking about cognition. I conclude with some remarks on potential ethical considerations of extended cognition.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, Oct 31, 2012
The author discusses the problem of integration of first-and third-person approaches in studying ... more The author discusses the problem of integration of first-and third-person approaches in studying the human mind. She critically evaluates and compares various methodologies for studying and explaining conscious experience. Common strategies that apply reductive explanation seem to be unsatisfied for explaining experience and its subjective character. There were attempts to explain experience from the first-person point of view (introspectionism, philosophical phenomenology) but the results were not intersubjectively verifiable. Dennett proposed heterophenomenology as a scientifically viable alternative which supposed to bridge the gap between first-and third-person perspectives. The author critically evaluates his proposal and compares it to contemporary attempts to provide first-person methods.
Balkan Journal of Philosophy, 2018
In the following article we first present the growing trend of incorporating neuroscience into th... more In the following article we first present the growing trend of incorporating neuroscience into the law, and the growing acceptance of and trust in neuroscience's mechanistic and reductionistic explanations of the human mind. We then present and discuss some studies that show how nudging peoples' beliefs about matters related to human agency (such as free will, decision-making, or self-control) towards a more deterministic, mechanistic and/or reductionistic conception, exerts an influence on their very actions, mentality, and brain processes. We suggest that the neuroscientific view of the human mind exerts an influence on the very cognitive phenomena neuroscience falsely believes to be studying objectively. This holds especially when we consider the systematic integration of neuroscience into the public domain, such as the law. For, such an integration acts as a reinforcement of the public's and legal decision-makers' endorsement of and trust in neuroscience's view of human nature that further changes how people think and act. Such looping effects of neurolaw are probably inevitable. Accordingly, we should be aware of the scope of neuroscientific explanations and be careful not to overstate neuroscientific evidence and findings in legal contexts.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems Scientific Journal, 2009
Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best wa... more Decision making is traditionally viewed as a rational process where reason calculates the best way to achieve the goal. Investigations from different areas of cognitive science have shown that human decisions and actions are much more influenced by intuition and emotional responses then it was previously thought. In this paper I examine the role of emotion in decision making, particularly Damasio's hypothesis of somatic markers and Green's dual process theory of moral judgment. I conclude the paper with the discussion of the threat that deliberation and conscious rationality is an illusion.
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2015
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2013
New tools and methods for investigating the brain have given neuroscientists a chance to examine ... more New tools and methods for investigating the brain have given neuroscientists a chance to examine the working brain and placed neuroscience as the central discipline in cognitive science. My main goal in this article is to examine theoretical and philosophical assumptions on which different understandings and interpretations of neuroscientific research are based and to show why philosophical reflection on neuroscience is needed. I first discuss different roles philosophy potentially plays in cognitive science. After a short presentation of Descartes' position concerning the mind body problem and cognitive science approaches to answer his challenge, I examine different theoretical frameworks for neuroscientific research.
Ars & Humanitas, 2012
Ključne besede: fi lozofi ja športa, igra, kognitivna znanost, utelešena kognicija, fenomenalna z... more Ključne besede: fi lozofi ja športa, igra, kognitivna znanost, utelešena kognicija, fenomenalna zavest Naj sestavek začnem s priznanjem, da se s športom v taki ali drugačni obliki ukvarjam že vse od otroštva. Z njim sta povezana zame magična predmeta kolo in žoga, z njim je povezan občutek svobode, pa tudi spoznanja, da je svet lahko krivičen in neprijazen. Na treningih in tekmah sem se naučila, kako pomembno je vztrajati in se ne predati. Šport me je pripeljal do močnih občutkov sreče, zadovoljstva in tovarištva, pa tudi žalosti in besa. Čeprav sem treninge in tekmovanja v določenih obdobjih jemala zelo resno in so bili tudi rezultati kar spodbudni, pa se tekmovalnemu športu zares nisem bila nikoli pripravljena podrediti. Pomemben razlog je verjetno dejstvo, da tekmovalni šport zahteva popolno osredotočenost, podrejanje urnikov in stila življenja, kar se mi je kot mladenki, željni spoznavanja sveta, zdelo prevelika cena. Moje razmišljanje o tekmovalnem, vedno bolj profesionalnem športu je postalo zelo kritično in za nekaj časa sem odpisala vse institucionalne oblike športa, vključno z velikimi športnimi dogodki. Še naprej sem uživala v različnih zvrsteh gibanja v naravi in si slikala romantično podobo športa, ki pa se seveda ni ujemala s stvarnostjo. Šport je postal moj skrbno varovan del prostega časa. Mladostna kritičnost se je kasneje obrusila in danes z veseljem pogledam televizijski prenos atletskega mitinga, košarkarske tekme ali kakega drugega zanimivega športnega dogodka. A precej raje kot pasivna gledalka sem aktivna, saj mi to prinaša vedno nove zanimive izkušnje.
The remarkable development of neuroscience in the past three decades (the so-called “neuroscienti... more The remarkable development of neuroscience in the past three decades (the so-called “neuroscientific revolution”) has had a tremendous impact on our understanding of ourselves and the world. The slow, but persistent spread of neuroscience into humanities, social sciences, and everyday life has prompted several authors to critically examine and reassess some of its far-reaching claims, along with its methods of collecting, organising and interpreting data. It has been increasingly pointed out that there is a profound difference between what neuroscience purports to explain and what it actually does and can explain, and that therefore a better understanding of conceptual, methodological, and metaphysical presuppositions of neuroscience is needed. The goal of this article is to provide a small contribution to this vast critical endeavour, focusing particularly on the prominent modular hypothesis, i.e. the idea that the mind consists of a plethora of different cognitive functions (modules) and that these are somehow instantiated or realised in discrete brain regions. After delineating some of the major shortcomings of the modular thesis, the article goes on to argue that it is essential for neuroscience to become better acquainted with its underlying assumptions, and that a platform for constructive and engaged dialogue with other areas of research is needed.