Ned Block

Ned Block is a Silver Professor at New York University, holding appointments in the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology and the Center for Neural Science. His research focuses on the philosophy of mind, perception, consciousness, and the empirical foundations of cognitive theories. Block has delivered prestigious lectures at institutions including Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. His major contributions include exploring the distinction between perception and cognition, challenging cognitive theories of consciousness, and advocating for empirical evidence over intuition in philosophical inquiry.

Block's notable works include The Border Between Seeing and Thinking (2023), which argues for a fundamental divide between perception and cognition, and Blockheads! (2019), a collection of essays critiquing and expanding his ideas. He has received recognition through distinguished lecture series and academic honors, reflecting his significant impact on interdisciplinary studies of the mind.

Key Research Themes:

• Perception vs. Cognition: Format and Content Differences
• Consciousness Theories: Biological vs. Functional Accounts
• Empirical Methods in Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Penetrability and Introspection

Awards and Lectures:

• John Locke Lectures (Oxford)
• Immanuel Kant Lectures (Stanford)
• William James Lectures (Harvard)
• Jean Nicod Lectures (École Normale Supérieure)