Philosophy SIG Winter Conference 2026 - The mind-body problem revisited: Could physics help?
In-person event
| Timings | 9:25 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Location | RCPsych, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8BB |
| CPD | 1 CPD point per hour attended, subject to peer approval |
| Non-Member | £170 |
|---|---|
| Consultant | £150 |
| Resident Doctor / SAS Doctor | £100 |
| Medical Student / Foundation Doctor / Subsidsed and Retired Member | £50 |
Event Information
“With so many questions remaining unanswered in the field of mental health, we need to return to the basics and fundamentals. Perhaps, the field of mental health is not a fully formed science. For example, before we identify a patient as having a delusion, we may need to ask basic and fundamental questions such as what is reality and how do we know it? Welcome to the field of metaphysics and epistemology.”
- Dr Temi Metseagharun, Chair RCPsych Philosophy SIG
What is reality? Could psychiatric phenomena, phenomenology and nosology be affected and/or reshaped by our understanding of physics? And for the physicist interested in psychiatric phenomena, could phenomena as described in psychopathology provide insights into the mysteries of quantum mechanics?
Could all reality be reduced to the study of physics and physical phenomena?
Is the mind basically the brain?
Has 21st Century AI not resolved the so-called mind-body problem? If so, could predictive processing/coding theories and computational psychiatry inform our understanding of psychosis, decision-making, criminal responsibility, and expert evidence in legal settings?
Just as fundamental particle physics is reflected in the glorious IT of today, why not in our understanding of the brain and its "biological information technology"? If it can, would genuine practical clinical utility come with understanding true psychopathology that is not merely undesirable states of mind, cultural constructs, and human values?
Or:
"...the term mental disorder unfortunately implies a distinction between 'mental' disorders and 'physical' disorders that is a reductionistic anachronism of mind/body dualism." (DSM-IV)
We have neuroscientists like Karl Friston to enlighten us at the conference.
Danko Georgiev may tell us a bit about The Emperor's New Mind, Maya and Tao of physics, or why such talk cannot lead anywhere.
The conference will include a panel discussion and debate to help clarify mental phenomena and the perception of "reality", and then relate them to physics, abnormal emotions and perceptions, and ultimately psychopathology.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:25am | Conference Opening by Dr Temi Metseagharun, Chair RCPsych Philosophy SIG |
| 9:30am | Introduction to the Mind-Body Problem (possibly by psychiatrist-psychoanalyst) |
| 10:15am | Quantum Information Theoretic Approach to the Hard Problem of Consciousness Danko Georgiev |
| 11:00am - 11:15am | Morning Break |
| 11:15am - 12:00pm | 3 × 15-minute presentation sessions from selected abstracts, e.g. General Philosophy, Physics, Neuroscience, Clinical |
| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Lunch Break |
| 1:00pm - 1:45pm | From Synapse to Sentience Karl Friston |
| 1:45pm - 2:30pm | 3 × 15-minute presentation sessions from selected abstracts, e.g. General Philosophy, Physics, Neuroscience, Clinical |
| 2:30pm - 2:45pm | Stretch/Coffee Break |
| 2:45pm - 4:15pm | Panel Discussion and Debate: After All We Have Heard on the Mind-Body Problem, Could Physics Help? |
| 4:15pm - 4:30pm | Stretch Break |
| 4:30pm - 5:15pm | Speaker TBC |
| 5:15pm - 6:00pm | Panel Discussion and Conclusion of Conference (potentially with additional senior physicists) |
| 6:00pm | Close of Day |
This year’s conference is unique, and in pursuit of the raison d'être of the SIG - a dialogue between philosophers and psychiatrists. The conference will have six 15-minute slots for abstract presentations relevant to the theme.
The PhilSIG welcome any academic with an existing paper or unpublished research that is relevant to the theme of "The Mind-Body Revisited: Could Physics Help?" .
Word Count: 300
Please complete the PhilSIG Winter Conference 2026 - Abstract Submission Form
Email sigs@rcpsych.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Bookings for this event will close Monday 30 November at 10am.
We recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.