In Memoriam: Francisco Varela - Tom Froese (PhD)

Francisco Varela, a biologist, neuroscientist, and philosopher, is one of the most influential figures in the history of cognitive science. In his 54-year life, spanning from 1946 to 2001, he made significant contributions through both empirical research and theoretical work that fundamentally changed our approach to cognition and living systems. The work he initially conducted with Humberto Maturana, as well as his later collaborations with scholars like Evan Thompson, serves as a milestone for embodied cognition. In his research, Varela combined Buddhism and phenomenology with biology and cognitive science. In neuroscience, neurophenomenology holds a significant place as both a method and an approach. The 1991 book The Embodied Mind, co-authored with Evan Thompson and Eleanor Rosch, is a classic in cognitive science and one of the foundational texts of enactivism. Francisco Varela's birthday is on September 7th. To commemorate his life, work, and ongoing impact on cognitive science, we hosted two talks—one in English and one in Turkish—on September 11th.

We thank Tom Froese (PhD) for accepting our invitation, for his wonderful talk and all the participants that joined us on this important date.

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