Our Social Brains

Why the neuroscience of social phenomena matters.

by Richard Lopez

Empathy 101

By Richard Lopez on July 12, 2010 in Our Social Brains

How do I know that I know what I know - about you? This is clearly a question about epistemology, about knowledge. But it's a special kind of knowledge, about others. The ability to understand what another human being is thinking or feeling is most commonly known as empathy. The word empathy comes from the German einfühlung, which literally translates as "feeling into." Read More

Mirror neurons

Submitted by K. Scheller on July 13, 2010 - 2:51am.

Hey, interesting article!

I'm just surprised that you say "there is some preliminary evidence of so-called "mirror neurons". There seem to be so many recent articles about mirror neurons - is their existence actually still in doubt?

Also, I agree it is strange that people see theory of mind and simulation theory as exclusive. Simulation theory does not seem like it can explain everything (e.g. empathy for people you cannot see/ do not know) while the theory of mind has a problem - that it needs to be developed. The most logical way seems to me that our mirror neuron system provides the initial stimuli that help us generate and maintain the theory of mind...