Consciousness, Literature and the Arts

Archive

Biographies of Contributors

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Charles Whitehead is interested in investigating brain areas involved in social displays such as pretend play, role-play, and representational art, which he sees as central to our humanity and probably a major reason for our large brains. He believes such research will help to resolve the conceptual gulf dividing social from biological anthropology, and the closely related conflict between scientism and spirituality. Following twenty years as Creative Director of an advertising agency, he gained his MSc in Social Anthropology at University College London, followed by a PhD in anthropology and neuroscience in 2003. He has edited two volumes on social approaches to consciousness, has published more than sixty papers, chapters, and articles on neuroscience, anthropology, consciousness, and related topics, and has presented regularly at international conferences on consciousness, psychology, and human behaviour.