Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Philip Laughlin @philiplaughlin.bsky.social · 14m

This is very bad news for the dullest people among us.

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Alex Madva @madva.bsky.social · 2h

Super fun *start* to Thursday evening at least, and huge thanks to Michael's and my moms for rallying so many of our Philly friends and family! @upenn.edu

Photo of Alex Madva and Michael Brownstein in front of an audience at the Penn bookstore

Photo of a stack of books entitled Somebody Should Do Something, in front of a sign for the University of Pennsylvania

3 4

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 5h

Causal Reasoning by David Lagnado: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.0de13fd2

2 2

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Michael Brownstein @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social · 16h

Amtrak got me to Philly two hours late, but after a sprint from 30th St, it was a fun time with @madva.bsky.social talking about Somebody Should Do Something at Penn. Good turnout given that we were competing with the (ill-fated) Phillies game. @dryan149.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social

1 1 4

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Michael Brownstein @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social · 2d

Friends in Chicago: alert! alert!

Daniel Kelly @dryan149.bsky.social · 9d

Chicagoland Friends! Two weeks from today I'll be in town at The Seminary Coop to talk about social change and my new book. It would be great to see you! It's from 4-5pm Thursday 10/16, and I will probably be thirsty afterwards.

www.semcoop.com/event/daniel...

2 3

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 2d

Cognitive Artifacts by Valeria Giardino: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.5e3d3713

1 2

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Daniel Kelly @dryan149.bsky.social · 2d

Proud and, given all the other incredibly smart and cool stuff on the shelves in the Tyler Collection at @casbsstanford.bsky.social, frankly kind of humbled to have our book join the ranks 🙏🏼

@michaelbrownstein.bsky.social @madva.bsky.social

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford @casbsstanford.bsky.social · 2d

A copy of the NEW BOOK @mitpress.bsky.social, "Somebody Should Do Something," has entered the Center's world renowned Ralph W. Tyler Collection! 📖

Two of its authors, @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social (2019-20) & @dryan149.bsky.social (2018-19), worked on the book during their CASBS fellowships 😏 🙌

1 2 9

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Michael Brownstein @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social · 2d

All the thanks in the world to @casbsstanford.bsky.social

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford @casbsstanford.bsky.social · 2d

A copy of the NEW BOOK @mitpress.bsky.social, "Somebody Should Do Something," has entered the Center's world renowned Ralph W. Tyler Collection! 📖

Two of its authors, @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social (2019-20) & @dryan149.bsky.social (2018-19), worked on the book during their CASBS fellowships 😏 🙌

3 6

Philip Laughlin @philiplaughlin.bsky.social · 3d

Coalitionaly! (Coalitionally?)

1

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social · 3d

Rights for Robots?
6pm Orpheum Theatre. Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Presentation based on the book "Person, Thing, Robot" The MIT Press bit.ly/Gunkel-PTR

1 1 7

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Adrian Currie @adrian-currie.bsky.social · 3d

If you’re interested in practicing the philosophy of science in practice why not come along to an online workshop “the philosophy of science in practice - in practice”? #philsci

2 24 58

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 3d

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Cantwell Smith, a visionary academic whose profound philosophy shaped our understanding of computation and artificial intelligence. We were honored to publish his groundbreaking ideas and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

BRIAN SMITH Obituary (2025) - The Globe and Mail

View BRIAN CANTWELL SMITH's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

www.legacy.com

3 18

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 3d

Episodic Future Thinking by Daniel L. Schacter: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.112fbf72

1 1

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Alex Madva @madva.bsky.social · 4d

And... we're off! My first stop on the SSDS book tour was tonight and will be tough to top! Westport Library is an amazing venue, couldn't ask for a better moderator than Sharon Suchotliff, and huge thanks to Jennifer Keller and co for making it happen!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY5K...

#booksky

Common Ground: 'Somebody Should Do Something' w/ Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, & Daniel Kelly

YouTube video by The Westport Library

www.youtube.com

1 4 9

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 4d

Sensory Substitution by Malika Auvray: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.31252f1b

1 1

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Giosuè Baggio @giosuebaggio.bsky.social · 5d

Looking forward to reading Greg’s new book. Something tells me this is going to be a classic. 📖 (I’ll be wise to focus on the stuff I know less well and learn from it, but I’m curious to see how his views on IFG are evolving, and why IFG is still not part of the brain’s ‘combinatorial network’.) 🗣️👂🧠

Greg Hickok @gregoryhickok.bsky.social · 6d

My attempt to depict the neural architecture of language as motivated in my forthcoming book, Wired for Words. Like colors represent functional connectivity. Main insight: linguistic levels are all organized with a sensorimotor-like architecture. pbs.twimg.com/media/G2cwsM...

1 1 5

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social · 5d

"Rights for Robots?"
Tomorrow (7 October 2025) I will be at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois for an event at the Orpheum Theatre. The event is free and open to the public...including non-human persons, AI companions, and robots.

3 5

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Society for Philosophy and Psychology @socphilpsych.bsky.social · 5d

Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change
 📚From Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva & Daniel Kelly

Somebody Should Do Something

Changing the world is difficult. One reason is that the most important problems, like climate change, racism, and poverty, are structural. They emerge from o...

mitpress.mit.edu

2 8

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 5d

Censorship has no place in a free society. To mark the start of #BannedBooksWeek, we've curated a list of recent MIT Press books to help you read for your rights: mitpress.mit.edu/reading-free...

Promotional image depicting three 3D covers of MIT Press books. Books featured are "Somebody Should Do Something," "On Liberalism," and "Rewiring Democracy."

18 34

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 6d

Cultural Universals by Manvir Singh: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.44a6d380

1 4

Philip Laughlin @philiplaughlin.bsky.social · 7d

mitpress.mit.edu/978026254630...

1

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Michael Brownstein @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social · 7d

Aside from having to record it in my overheated closet, this was a really fun interview with Andrew Keen. Appreciated the hard questions--like whether there can be a science of social change--and occasional pushback.
@madva.bsky.social @dryan149.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social #booksky

How to Lose Loudly: What the Left can Learn from the NRA

Episode 2577: Michael Brownstein on how anyone can create social change

keenon.substack.com

3 6

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science bot @oecs-bot.bsky.social · 7d

Theory of Mind by Henry M. Wellman: https://doi.org/10.21428/e2759450.4c3b0935

1 4

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Michael Erard @michaelerard.bsky.social · 8d

@maastrichtu.bsky.social, where I work, deployed its PR machine in my direction and ran a nice profile of me in the uni magazine. The photo was taken at the Sint Janskerk in front of a massive stone sculpture of a reclining skeleton emblazoned with the words MEMENTO MORI (not visible here)

a white man with a white beard wearing a dark sweater sits at a table, gesticulating about something or other with both hands. behind him are visible the ribcage and legs of a reclining skeleton

1 8

Reposted by Philip Laughlin

Daniel Kelly @dryan149.bsky.social · 8d

mitpress.mit.edu/what-to-read...

What to read on International Day of Non-Violence

Several books on peace and reformation for International Day of Non-Violence.

mitpress.mit.edu

2 5