Bats and Seahorses   /     Understanding Abstract Thinking: An Interview with Rafael Núñez

Description

How did the invention of fire accelerate the evolution of language? Would extraterrestrial aliens have similar mathematics as us? How mathematical thinking is possibly augmented by the same mechanisms as those that allow us to talk about time spatially? What did Rafael learn from his mentors Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela? How travelling partially inspired him to become a scientist?..........

Summary

Rafael & Vadim in Chile

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http://www.vadimkulikov.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rafael_Nunez_Interview_by_Vadim_Kulikov.mp3

Download mp3 file by right-clicking here.

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 In 2009 I ordered the book “Where Mathematics Comes From: How The Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics Into Being.

This was my first encounter with Rafael — in the form of reading this book by him and Lakoff. The book was also my first encounter with cognitive science of mathematics which has now become one of my main scientific interests. In particular I learned about number subitizing which is the ability of very young children (in some experiments as young as two days after birth) which is shared by most mammals to distinguish small quantities from each other: two spots from three spots or even two sounds from three spots making the numerocity really the essential factor. I was fascinated by the science of mathematical cognition.

(more…)

Subtitle
How did the invention of fire accelerate the evolution of language? Would extraterrestrial aliens have similar mathematics as us? How mathematical thinking is possibly augmented by the same mechanisms as those that allow us to talk about time spatially?
Duration
01:02:00
Publishing date
2016-12-05 13:14
Link
http://www.vadimkulikov.org/podcast/rafael-nunez/
Contributors
  Vadim Kulikov
author  
Enclosures
http://www.vadimkulikov.org/podcast-download/467/rafael-nunez.mp3
audio/mpeg

Shownotes

Rafael & Vadim in Chile

Stream it from here:

http://www.vadimkulikov.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rafael_Nunez_Interview_by_Vadim_Kulikov.mp3

Download mp3 file by right-clicking here.

View on YouTube

 In 2009 I ordered the book “Where Mathematics Comes From: How The Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics Into Being.

This was my first encounter with Rafael — in the form of reading this book by him and Lakoff. The book was also my first encounter with cognitive science of mathematics which has now become one of my main scientific interests. In particular I learned about number subitizing which is the ability of very young children (in some experiments as young as two days after birth) which is shared by most mammals to distinguish small quantities from each other: two spots from three spots or even two sounds from three spots making the numerocity really the essential factor. I was fascinated by the science of mathematical cognition.

(more…)