Simon Brown
@simonabbrown.bsky.social
Philosopher of mind/cog sci studying animal minds, memory,
consciousness, temporal representation, & implications for animal ethics/policy.
Asst. Prof. @ Ashoka University, India. Formerly postdoc @ London School of Economics & Johns Hopkins University
consciousness, temporal representation, & implications for animal ethics/policy.
Asst. Prof. @ Ashoka University, India. Formerly postdoc @ London School of Economics & Johns Hopkins University
Anyone with at least an undergrad degree can apply! I think we could be an attractive option for a wide range of people from around the world, especially for those interested in Indian philosophy (and especially Buddhism)!
is this restricted by nationality or age at all?
February 9, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Anyone with at least an undergrad degree can apply! I think we could be an attractive option for a wide range of people from around the world, especially for those interested in Indian philosophy (and especially Buddhism)!
We're starting a PhD programme in Philosophy at Ashoka! Anyone can apply by April 15 for admission this year, and we will ensure that admitted applicants receive enough funding to support them for the 5 year programme. More info here:
www.ashoka.edu.in/programme/ph...
www.ashoka.edu.in/programme/ph...
Ph.D. Programme in Philosophy - Ashoka University
The PhD in Philosophy programme conforms to all Ashoka PhD programme guidelines. Additional guidelines specific to the Philosophy PhD programme […]
www.ashoka.edu.in
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 AM
We're starting a PhD programme in Philosophy at Ashoka! Anyone can apply by April 15 for admission this year, and we will ensure that admitted applicants receive enough funding to support them for the 5 year programme. More info here:
www.ashoka.edu.in/programme/ph...
www.ashoka.edu.in/programme/ph...
Reposted by Simon Brown
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Apes Share Human Ability to Imagine
YouTube video by Johns Hopkins University
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Now with an official Teaching and Learning Guide! compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
February 6, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Now with an official Teaching and Learning Guide! compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Simon Brown
I've read a lot of slanted papers from tech company employees about the 'benefits' of AI, but the fact that Anthropic themselves have put out such a cautious paper should be a big cause for alarm for people who are trading learning for prompting
And it doesn't improve productivity!
And it doesn't improve productivity!
‘Novice workers who rely heavily on AI to complete unfamiliar tasks may compromise their own skill acquisition… We find that AI use impairs conceptual understanding, code reading, and debugging abilities, without delivering significant efficiency gains on average.’
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.20245
arxiv.org/pdf/2601.20245
February 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I've read a lot of slanted papers from tech company employees about the 'benefits' of AI, but the fact that Anthropic themselves have put out such a cautious paper should be a big cause for alarm for people who are trading learning for prompting
And it doesn't improve productivity!
And it doesn't improve productivity!
Reposted by Simon Brown
Please make it your new resolution to visit AskHistorians once a week, because we've never been this invested in overtaking another community.
February 1, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Please make it your new resolution to visit AskHistorians once a week, because we've never been this invested in overtaking another community.
My Hindi is terrible and most Delhi delivery drivers' English isn't much better, so we often have to rely on google translate. Mix this with lack of standardisation in how Hindi is spelled in Latin alphabet and the results can be glorious:
February 2, 2026 at 9:54 AM
My Hindi is terrible and most Delhi delivery drivers' English isn't much better, so we often have to rely on google translate. Mix this with lack of standardisation in how Hindi is spelled in Latin alphabet and the results can be glorious:
Reposted by Simon Brown
A Reform-led council has spent £600,000 on an eight-space car park, of which six spaces are reserved for senior Reform councillors, who get to park there at no charge.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Reform council spends £600k on eight free parking spaces for senior councillors | LBC
The majority of staff, who will not be able to use the free parking facilities available to their senior colleagues, will still be expected to pay to park every day
www.lbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 8:25 AM
A Reform-led council has spent £600,000 on an eight-space car park, of which six spaces are reserved for senior Reform councillors, who get to park there at no charge.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Reposted by Simon Brown
A new study from Anthropic finds that gains in coding efficiency when relying on AI assistance did did not meet statistical significance; AI use noticeably degraded programmers’ understanding of what they were doing. Incredible.
The latest from Anthropic: using Anthropic's products makes you worse at your job
How AI assistance impacts the formation of coding skills
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
www.anthropic.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:47 PM
A new study from Anthropic finds that gains in coding efficiency when relying on AI assistance did did not meet statistical significance; AI use noticeably degraded programmers’ understanding of what they were doing. Incredible.
Reposted by Simon Brown
My Centre is a unique place to do a PhD in Philosophy, because you can be in constant contact with experts in veterinary medicine, psychology, zoology and policy and be part of a team united by a shared interest in animal minds. We now have our 1st ever PhD scholarship: www.lse.ac.uk/sentience/phd
PhD Scholarship
www.lse.ac.uk
January 30, 2026 at 7:39 AM
My Centre is a unique place to do a PhD in Philosophy, because you can be in constant contact with experts in veterinary medicine, psychology, zoology and policy and be part of a team united by a shared interest in animal minds. We now have our 1st ever PhD scholarship: www.lse.ac.uk/sentience/phd
In an event which appears to have been real rather than a fever dream of Carol J. Adams, Friedrich Hayek once molested a bull so that a photograph could be sent to Margaret Thatcher with the caption "Hayek's Got Inflation By The Balls" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
A discreet intellectual network has been reshaping the world for 70 years. Here's how
A constant battle of ideas reshapes the world we live in, and few groups have been more successful in winning the war than the little-known Atlas Network.
www.abc.net.au
January 30, 2026 at 6:10 AM
In an event which appears to have been real rather than a fever dream of Carol J. Adams, Friedrich Hayek once molested a bull so that a photograph could be sent to Margaret Thatcher with the caption "Hayek's Got Inflation By The Balls" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Simon Brown
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Staff Entomologist — Insect Welfare Research Society
Work with Us
www.insectwelfare.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The IWRS is hiring! Help us build the infrastructure for invertebrate welfare research—from husbandry databases to educational resources. 🐛📖
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Remote Research Scientist position, $55-60K. We will begin reviewing applications on March 15.
Learn more and apply here:
Reposted by Simon Brown
NEW: India is avoiding the fossil fuel detour 🪝
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
January 23, 2026 at 10:51 AM
NEW: India is avoiding the fossil fuel detour 🪝
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Reposted by Simon Brown
A new podcast series through the London Review of Books (@lrb.co.uk): "Nature in Crisis." Close readings of books about nature, conservation, climate, & energy.
Once a month, with myself & Meehan Crist.
Episode 1, out now, is about Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."
www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...
Once a month, with myself & Meehan Crist.
Episode 1, out now, is about Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."
www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...
Podcast: Meehan Crist and Peter Godfrey-Smith · Nature in Crisis: ‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson
www.lrb.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 1:26 AM
A new podcast series through the London Review of Books (@lrb.co.uk): "Nature in Crisis." Close readings of books about nature, conservation, climate, & energy.
Once a month, with myself & Meehan Crist.
Episode 1, out now, is about Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."
www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...
Once a month, with myself & Meehan Crist.
Episode 1, out now, is about Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."
www.lrb.co.uk/podcasts-and...
Reposted by Simon Brown
Is Signal Strength a Confound in Consciousness Research?
today's blog post, critiquing @matthiasmichel.bsky.social and @hakwan.bsky.social -- link in comments
today's blog post, critiquing @matthiasmichel.bsky.social and @hakwan.bsky.social -- link in comments
January 23, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Is Signal Strength a Confound in Consciousness Research?
today's blog post, critiquing @matthiasmichel.bsky.social and @hakwan.bsky.social -- link in comments
today's blog post, critiquing @matthiasmichel.bsky.social and @hakwan.bsky.social -- link in comments
Reposted by Simon Brown
Aaaand we're back!!
Two Postdocs in Philosophy of Mind (one ot two years), Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
- to work with me!
Deadline: March 20, 2026
More info on PhilJobs
Two Postdocs in Philosophy of Mind (one ot two years), Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
- to work with me!
Deadline: March 20, 2026
More info on PhilJobs
January 22, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Aaaand we're back!!
Two Postdocs in Philosophy of Mind (one ot two years), Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
- to work with me!
Deadline: March 20, 2026
More info on PhilJobs
Two Postdocs in Philosophy of Mind (one ot two years), Centre for Philosophical Psychology, University of Antwerp
- to work with me!
Deadline: March 20, 2026
More info on PhilJobs
Reposted by Simon Brown
NEW – Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @sylviahayes.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
January 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM
NEW – Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @sylviahayes.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Read here: buff.ly/eAPkvkx
Reposted by Simon Brown
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Sentience in cephalopod molluscs: an updated assessment
This article evaluates the evidence for sentience – the capacity to have feelings – in cephalopod molluscs: octopus, cuttlefish, squid, and nautilus. Our framework includes eight criteria, covering b...
doi.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:48 AM
For those cephalopod lovers among you, our new updated review of the evidence for cephalpod sentience has now been published in Biological Reviews. (Sadly the picture is of birds rather than cephalopods, as this is the journal cover!)
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
doi.org/10.1002/brv....
Reposted by Simon Brown
📢 Abstract submission and registration reminder!
As we celebrate 100 years of UFAW, we invite you to join our 3-day conference to explore the latest developments in #AnimalWelfareScience
More details and submission portal: https://www.scienceforanimalwelfare2026.org/
As we celebrate 100 years of UFAW, we invite you to join our 3-day conference to explore the latest developments in #AnimalWelfareScience
More details and submission portal: https://www.scienceforanimalwelfare2026.org/
January 21, 2026 at 12:01 PM
📢 Abstract submission and registration reminder!
As we celebrate 100 years of UFAW, we invite you to join our 3-day conference to explore the latest developments in #AnimalWelfareScience
More details and submission portal: https://www.scienceforanimalwelfare2026.org/
As we celebrate 100 years of UFAW, we invite you to join our 3-day conference to explore the latest developments in #AnimalWelfareScience
More details and submission portal: https://www.scienceforanimalwelfare2026.org/
Reposted by Simon Brown
New UCC paper shows how low beef and sheep systems are for net digestible protein per hectare: they produce protein for 2–3 people per ha, versus ~23 for milk and ~40 for legumes. That’s ~15× more digestible protein per hectare from legumes than beef.
January 20, 2026 at 4:20 PM
New UCC paper shows how low beef and sheep systems are for net digestible protein per hectare: they produce protein for 2–3 people per ha, versus ~23 for milk and ~40 for legumes. That’s ~15× more digestible protein per hectare from legumes than beef.
Reposted by Simon Brown
Robert Jenrick is unique in British politics for being the only MP who is an anagram of his constituency
January 18, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Robert Jenrick is unique in British politics for being the only MP who is an anagram of his constituency
Reposted by Simon Brown
Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data!
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
January 17, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data!
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
Reposted by Simon Brown
The "Clean Food Facts" campaign of the Center for Consumer Freedom, which is funded by the meat industry, is an #astroturfing effort targeting #plantbased meat alternatives thru manipulative strategies: the illusion of credibility, emotional #manipulation and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1108/978-...
Savouring Truth: Exposing Disinformation in the World of Alternative Meats
This chapter analyses the deceptive tactics employed by the Center for Consumer Freedom’s (CCF) Clean Food Facts campaign, an astroturfing effort targeting
doi.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM
The "Clean Food Facts" campaign of the Center for Consumer Freedom, which is funded by the meat industry, is an #astroturfing effort targeting #plantbased meat alternatives thru manipulative strategies: the illusion of credibility, emotional #manipulation and… (1/2) doi.org/10.1108/978-...
Reposted by Simon Brown
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
Reposted by Simon Brown
New paper from the IMC lab! I am very excited about this one. For years, I have been arguing that one of the main claims of the so-called "simulation heuristic" is likely not true for episodic counterfactual thinking, namely that the harder it is to mentally simulate it, the less plausible (1/n)
January 7, 2026 at 11:11 PM
New paper from the IMC lab! I am very excited about this one. For years, I have been arguing that one of the main claims of the so-called "simulation heuristic" is likely not true for episodic counterfactual thinking, namely that the harder it is to mentally simulate it, the less plausible (1/n)