Mariel Goddu
@marielgoddu.bsky.social
Philosophy of learning, evolution, & development, but make it metaphysics.
It‘s not a point of view, it’s a point of *do*. Cognition is like digestion. Plant I > AI. Phil of Mind = Phil of Biology.
https://philosophy.stanford.edu/people/mariel-goddu
It‘s not a point of view, it’s a point of *do*. Cognition is like digestion. Plant I > AI. Phil of Mind = Phil of Biology.
https://philosophy.stanford.edu/people/mariel-goddu
Pinned
Mariel Goddu
@marielgoddu.bsky.social
· Sep 21
Summer Term 2025 (June 16-Sept 22):
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Chapter: "Toward a 5E (evolutionary) cognition"
-Essay: "How to assemble a consciousness"
-German: C1.1/C1.2
June 🇺🇸 |July 🇩🇪 | August 🇺🇸
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Chapter: "Toward a 5E (evolutionary) cognition"
-Essay: "How to assemble a consciousness"
-German: C1.1/C1.2
June 🇺🇸 |July 🇩🇪 | August 🇺🇸
Spring Term 2025 (March 31-June 11):
-Modal Logic
-Merleau-Ponty
-Soc. & Pol. Philosophy of Language
-Teaching Methods in Philosophy
-Writing (ongoing): "Intuitive Physics is for Action"; "Cognitive Ontology through the Lens of Biology"
-Modal Logic
-Merleau-Ponty
-Soc. & Pol. Philosophy of Language
-Teaching Methods in Philosophy
-Writing (ongoing): "Intuitive Physics is for Action"; "Cognitive Ontology through the Lens of Biology"
Fall Term 2025 (Sept 22-Dec 12)
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
I had SO much fun talking to Paul for almost 2 hours about my new book on Schrödinger & molecular biology. Easily one of the most enjoyable podcasts I've ever done. Check it out!
P.S. CUP has made the PDF of my book free to download for 2 more weeks. Get it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
P.S. CUP has made the PDF of my book free to download for 2 more weeks. Get it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
What Is Life? A misleading title for Schrödinger's book.
What is Life? Revisited. A spot-on title for Dan's @djnicholson.bsky.social book, which happens to be a gem.
After reading it and discussing with Dan, I can only picture Schrödinger as a cartoon villain now.
braininspired.co/podcast/224/
What is Life? Revisited. A spot-on title for Dan's @djnicholson.bsky.social book, which happens to be a gem.
After reading it and discussing with Dan, I can only picture Schrödinger as a cartoon villain now.
braininspired.co/podcast/224/
November 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I had SO much fun talking to Paul for almost 2 hours about my new book on Schrödinger & molecular biology. Easily one of the most enjoyable podcasts I've ever done. Check it out!
P.S. CUP has made the PDF of my book free to download for 2 more weeks. Get it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
P.S. CUP has made the PDF of my book free to download for 2 more weeks. Get it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Really wanna give this kid like 0.1 points for neatly boxing their answer
November 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Really wanna give this kid like 0.1 points for neatly boxing their answer
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
As a philosopher I come from a rich tradition of being annoying af
November 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
As a philosopher I come from a rich tradition of being annoying af
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
How to use and interpret the #adaptationinertia framework of #phylogenetic comparative methods based on the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process to study adaptation:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Pienaar et al. 2025
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Pienaar et al. 2025
Phylogenetic comparative methods for studying adaptation: the adaptation-inertia framework
Abstract. Phylogenetic comparative methods are a major tool for evaluating macroevolutionary hypotheses. Methods based on the mean-reverting stochastic Orn
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
How to use and interpret the #adaptationinertia framework of #phylogenetic comparative methods based on the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process to study adaptation:
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Pienaar et al. 2025
doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...
Pienaar et al. 2025
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
New issue of Nature - with NINE studies on #brain #development from the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) 🧠🧪🔬
An amazing set of resources for all scientists working on the brain!
🧠 Immersive feature:
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
🧠 Perspective:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An amazing set of resources for all scientists working on the brain!
🧠 Immersive feature:
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
🧠 Perspective:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
New issue of Nature - with NINE studies on #brain #development from the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) 🧠🧪🔬
An amazing set of resources for all scientists working on the brain!
🧠 Immersive feature:
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
🧠 Perspective:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An amazing set of resources for all scientists working on the brain!
🧠 Immersive feature:
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
🧠 Perspective:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
"The Riddle of Organismal Agency" is now available as a paperback version! Edited by @alejandrofabregastejeda.com, Jan Baedke, Guido Prieto and Gregory Radick, the volume puts together reflections from #HistSci and #PhilSci on the topic of organismal agency.
#HPBio
www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o...
#HPBio
www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o...
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
"The Riddle of Organismal Agency" is now available as a paperback version! Edited by @alejandrofabregastejeda.com, Jan Baedke, Guido Prieto and Gregory Radick, the volume puts together reflections from #HistSci and #PhilSci on the topic of organismal agency.
#HPBio
www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o...
#HPBio
www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o...
First annual Stanford Philosophy Jack-o'-lantern competition! What's your favorite? (individual entries below!)
October 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
First annual Stanford Philosophy Jack-o'-lantern competition! What's your favorite? (individual entries below!)
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Are humans the only rational animals?
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Are humans the only rational animals?
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
The evolutionary origins of synaptic proteins and their changing roles in different organisms across evolution
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Recent studies have shed further light on the evolutionary origins of chemical synapses, In this Review, Colgren and Burkhardt explore how ancient proteins were...
rdcu.be
October 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
"[T]he most telling reflection came from a third group. These were the people who understood the prank, who saw the joke for what it was, and whose immediate reaction was a sigh of disappointment."
"What does a reaction like this reveal? It reveals a a kind of learned helplessness. A mind so
"What does a reaction like this reveal? It reveals a a kind of learned helplessness. A mind so
Excellent post by the creator of the hoax FormatMyPaper.com.
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
Beware giving this site your unpublished data
Users noticed the website had fake testimonials and a domain name registered seemingly overnight.
ubadah.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"[T]he most telling reflection came from a third group. These were the people who understood the prank, who saw the joke for what it was, and whose immediate reaction was a sigh of disappointment."
"What does a reaction like this reveal? It reveals a a kind of learned helplessness. A mind so
"What does a reaction like this reveal? It reveals a a kind of learned helplessness. A mind so
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Excellent post by the creator of the hoax FormatMyPaper.com.
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
Beware giving this site your unpublished data
Users noticed the website had fake testimonials and a domain name registered seemingly overnight.
ubadah.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Excellent post by the creator of the hoax FormatMyPaper.com.
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
"We’re a community of experts, terrified of a harmless prank site, yet seemingly unbothered by the multi-billion dollar publishing industry that actually takes our copyright, our labor, and our intellectual property every single day."
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
The University of Virginia is a NO on the Trump Administration’s “Compact”
October 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The University of Virginia is a NO on the Trump Administration’s “Compact”
Keep ‘em coming!!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
October 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Keep ‘em coming!!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Shared courtesy of my Penn History colleague, Ben Nathans
October 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Shared courtesy of my Penn History colleague, Ben Nathans
Heck yeah, M.I.T!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Heck yeah, M.I.T!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
Our chapter on cognitive homologies *in print* ! 🤩
@beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social
Thread & link 🔗 below👇
@beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social
Thread & link 🔗 below👇
October 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Our chapter on cognitive homologies *in print* ! 🤩
@beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social
Thread & link 🔗 below👇
@beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social
Thread & link 🔗 below👇
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Happy to share that our BBS target article has been accepted: “Core Perception”: Re-imagining Precocious Reasoning as Sophisticated Perceiving
With Alon Hafri, @veroniqueizard.bsky.social, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & Brent Strickland
Read it here: doi.org/10.1017/S014...
A short thread [1/5]👇
With Alon Hafri, @veroniqueizard.bsky.social, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & Brent Strickland
Read it here: doi.org/10.1017/S014...
A short thread [1/5]👇
October 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Happy to share that our BBS target article has been accepted: “Core Perception”: Re-imagining Precocious Reasoning as Sophisticated Perceiving
With Alon Hafri, @veroniqueizard.bsky.social, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & Brent Strickland
Read it here: doi.org/10.1017/S014...
A short thread [1/5]👇
With Alon Hafri, @veroniqueizard.bsky.social, @chazfirestone.bsky.social & Brent Strickland
Read it here: doi.org/10.1017/S014...
A short thread [1/5]👇
First day of 23rd grade 🚌
(2nd yr of 2nd PhD)
Annual reminder: It’s never too late to do what makes you happy!
(2nd yr of 2nd PhD)
Annual reminder: It’s never too late to do what makes you happy!
September 23, 2025 at 6:33 AM
First day of 23rd grade 🚌
(2nd yr of 2nd PhD)
Annual reminder: It’s never too late to do what makes you happy!
(2nd yr of 2nd PhD)
Annual reminder: It’s never too late to do what makes you happy!
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
Check out our chapter (led by @beakr.bsky.social) on cognitive ontology here! : philpapers.org/archive/KRIC...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
September 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Check out our chapter (led by @beakr.bsky.social) on cognitive ontology here! : philpapers.org/archive/KRIC...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
Fall Term 2025 (Sept 22-Dec 12)
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
Summer Term 2025 (June 16-Sept 22):
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Chapter: "Toward a 5E (evolutionary) cognition"
-Essay: "How to assemble a consciousness"
-German: C1.1/C1.2
June 🇺🇸 |July 🇩🇪 | August 🇺🇸
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Chapter: "Toward a 5E (evolutionary) cognition"
-Essay: "How to assemble a consciousness"
-German: C1.1/C1.2
June 🇺🇸 |July 🇩🇪 | August 🇺🇸
Spring Term 2025 (March 31-June 11):
-Modal Logic
-Merleau-Ponty
-Soc. & Pol. Philosophy of Language
-Teaching Methods in Philosophy
-Writing (ongoing): "Intuitive Physics is for Action"; "Cognitive Ontology through the Lens of Biology"
-Modal Logic
-Merleau-Ponty
-Soc. & Pol. Philosophy of Language
-Teaching Methods in Philosophy
-Writing (ongoing): "Intuitive Physics is for Action"; "Cognitive Ontology through the Lens of Biology"
September 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Fall Term 2025 (Sept 22-Dec 12)
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
-Teaching Assistant, Mathematical Logic
-Epistemology
-Proseminar
-Paper: "Intuitive physics is for action"
Check out our chapter (led by @beakr.bsky.social) on cognitive ontology here! : philpapers.org/archive/KRIC...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
September 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Check out our chapter (led by @beakr.bsky.social) on cognitive ontology here! : philpapers.org/archive/KRIC...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
We propose a developmental approach to 'cognitive homologies' –– (cognitive capacities that are "the same across species") –– as a means for carving up cognition.
Our approach adopts...
Reposted by Mariel Goddu
😊 So proud this is out now:
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience
Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!
www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience
Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!
www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
Neurocognitive Foundations of Mind
This volume provides a cohesive and comprehensive case that cognitive neuroscience is maturing into an integrated, interdisciplinary science that is transforming our understanding of the mind.
The ris...
www.routledge.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
😊 So proud this is out now:
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience
Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!
www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience
Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!
www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...
Update: it's the Great Golden Digger Wasp, the repetitive behavior is females' burrow inspection behavior, and the thing that prompts it is moving her prey
(h/t @evanwestra.bsky.social for that info & this video)
www.youtube.com/watch?si=gUN...
(h/t @evanwestra.bsky.social for that info & this video)
www.youtube.com/watch?si=gUN...
September 11, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Update: it's the Great Golden Digger Wasp, the repetitive behavior is females' burrow inspection behavior, and the thing that prompts it is moving her prey
(h/t @evanwestra.bsky.social for that info & this video)
www.youtube.com/watch?si=gUN...
(h/t @evanwestra.bsky.social for that info & this video)
www.youtube.com/watch?si=gUN...