Georgetown University Medical Center

Roland Benedikter

Section: Visiting Scholar Program

Roland Benedikter, PhD is currently a contract Professor Social Sciences at the Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. Dr. Benedikter will be at the Center February-June, 2008.

Research Topic: Consciousness - Individuality-Freedom. The Politics of the Mind Between Self, Brain and Society. Nine Case Studies in the Interplay between Neuronal Sciences, Technology, Society, Pilosophy and Humanism.

Research Summary:  The research project is dedicated to the creation of an inclusive methodological and paradigmatic approach regarding the newest findings of the neurosciencs and their societal interpretation. The work carried out during my visiting fellowship should include a specific translation of some of my published and unpublished work on these issues for English speaking audiences, and synergize my current research focus with some of the work of Professsor Giordano and Professor FitzGerald in the interplay between the neuroscienes, particularly the roles of genotype-phenotype-environmental interactions across the lifespan within particular geographic and anthropological niches, the concept of mind-consciousness-self, and of individual and group "moral behaviors" as reflective of neurally resonant patterns of interactive ecologies. Furthermore, the project will try to integrate the animadversion of "Postmodern" thinking on the new neuronal sciences into an overalll framework of balanced public discussion.

  For additional information on Dr. Benedikter go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Benedikter.