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SUMMARY:Ann-Sophie Barwich - The Cinderella of the Senses: Smell as a Window into Mind and Brain
DESCRIPTION:Join the Rotman Institute of Philosophy for a talk by Dr. Ann Sophie-Barwich related to her recent book\, Smellosophy: What the Nose Tells the Mind (Harvard University Press\, 2020).\nPending changes due to the evolving COVID situation\, this event is planned to be hybrid\, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. Please see below for full details. \nAbstract:\nThe human sense of smell has a remarkably lousy reputation. Popular opinion holds that we are bad at identifying and naming scents\, our olfactory system is in evolutionary decline\, and our olfactory sensations lack cognitive sophistication. However\, scientific insight has proven many of these predominantly pejorative beliefs about human smell perception wrong over the past three decades. Our olfactory system is much more elaborate than previously thought\, both in its physiological and cognitive functions. Recent developments in research on smell now offer an intriguing challenge to the current paradigm of sensory explanation: vision. My talk shows how theories of mind and brain–traditionally framed through our understanding of vision–can be revisited through smell. Specifically\, I argue that (1) odor perception is variable but not subjective\, and (2) our eyes are more easily fooled than our nose. The central aim of this talk is to illustrate the deep connection of odor perception with cognition. Not only is our perception of smell better than we think\, but it is also better when we think. \nSpeaker Profile:\nAnn-Sophie Barwich is a cognitive scientist and empirical philosopher. She is an Assistant Professor at Indiana University Bloomington. She divides her brain-time between the Department of History & Philosophy of Science and the Cognitive Science Program. \nSophie-Barwich’s first book Smellosophy: What the Nose tells the Mind\, highlights the importance of thinking about the sense of smell as a model for neuroscience and the senses.Her research in the Philosophy of Olfaction investigates: \n\nHow does the brain make sense of scents?\nWhat are the perceptual dimensions of smell?\nWhat are the epistemic\, empirical\, and social factors that define ongoing science (in comparison with the philosophical study of historical episodes)?\n\nLearn more about Ann-Sophie Barwich and about Smellosophy: What the Nose Tells the Mind. \nRegistration & Attendance:\nAttendance is free\, but for planning purposes and due to space constraints\, advance registration is required. We will be able to accommodate both in-person and virtual attendance. Anyone unsure at this time if they’ll participate in-person or virtually can proceed with registration\, but must confirm in-person attendance by mid-March. \nIn-Person Attendance\nWestern University’s vaccination policy and mandatory masking requirement remains in place and applies to all campus visitors\, students\, and employees. Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering the Western Interdisciplinary Research Building and note that masks are required at all times indoors. \nVisit Western's COVID-19 Information PageVisitor Parking On CampusComplimentary parking is available starting at 7:00 pm in the Visual Arts parking lot — located between the Western Interdisciplinary Research and Visual Arts Buildings on Perth Drive. (Please do not park in reserved spaces.) This lot is designated as ‘Lot Y’ and displayed in orange on the campus parking map.View the Western Parking MapRegister to attend in-personVirtual Attendance\nFor those who cannot join us in-person\, this talk will be streamed live via Zoom. Virtual attendees will have an opportunity to participate in the Q&A by entering their questions into the chat. Advance registration is required in order to obtain the zoom meeting link & password. \nDownload Zoom Client for MeetingsRegister to attend virtually via ZoomImage credit: Antique Perfume Bottles by Sandy/Chuck Harris (Creative Commons license) \nView similar events\nRotman Guest Speaker: Dr. Ken Waters24 October 2025\,  10:30 am - 11:30 am  EDT Rotman Visiting Speaker: Regina Rini11 August 2025\,  5:30 pm - 7:00 pm  EDT Rotman Visiting Speaker: Eric Hochstein6 August 2025\,  2:00 pm - 3:30 pm  EDT Rotman Visiting Speaker: Cameron Buckner5 August 2025\,  5:30 pm - 7:00 pm  EDT
URL:https://www.rotman.uwo.ca/event/ann-sophie-barwich-smellosophy/
LOCATION:Room 1170 – Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building\, London\, Ontario\, N6A 3K7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Philosophy of Mind & Neuroscience,Public Lectures
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