A mental look at cause and effect
The relationship between mental states (e.g. feelings, desires and perceptions) and physical reactions (e.g. ducking from fear when a ball comes your way) has long fascinated scientists. The concept is known as mental causation and covers a number of issues from psychosomatic ailments to metaphysics. The EU-funded project 'The ontology of mental causation' (Mentalcause) represented a joint British and Polish initiative that aimed to further research on the topic. Through extensive research at Durham University in the United Kingdom and its extensive library facilities, the project team published several research papers in academic journals and disseminated related information through conferences. The project also established working links with a complementary one on 'The New Ontology of the Mental Causation Debate', a beneficial exchange which supported the work of Mentalcause considerably. Project efforts have culminated in the participation of the British project partner in a world conference held at the Casimir the Great University, Poland on 'Ontological Proofs Today'. The Polish partner also attended several lectures on the topic at the University of Durham enriching his knowledge in important ways. These initiatives cemented ties between Poland and the United Kingdom in the drive to explore the topic of mental causation and produce cutting-edge literature on the subject. Mentalcause results are destined to support researchers and scientists to tease out the mysterious connections between body and mind, benefitting many disciplines from psychology to medicine.
