Alex Kacelnik (University of Oxford): What are minds for, and how do they work?

PI Lecture Series

Abstract:

The biological perspective on intelligence is well represented by the following quotes: “Is it not reasonable to anticipate that our understanding

of the human mind would be aided greatly by knowing the purpose for which it was designed?” (George Williams) and “Everybody is a genius.

But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” (Albert Einstein).

Meanwhile, those working on synthetic approaches to intelligence are often inspired by Richard Feynman’s claim that “What I cannot create, I do not understand”.

These quotes embody useful and inspiring questions for research on intelligence: why does it evolve, how specific is it, and to what extent can theoretical models

that we create behave intelligently. I will describe studies of animal intelligent behaviour and our attempts to understand it.

Alex Kacelnik FRS is a behavioural ecologist that works on animal behaviour and its underlying psychological mechanisms.

His research includes studies of decision making, learning and memory in birds, mammals, insects and other animals.

In SCioI he collaborates with Oliver Brock and Alice Auersperg in research on intelligence in cockatoos and its emulation in artificial systems.

He is also is a member and promotor of the Oxford-Berlin partnership.