It’s been a while! I’m backdating a few Simon & Finn’s from way back in November. The following cartoon accompanied the print article on “Embracing Imperfection: Plato and Nussbaum on Love” (Lillian Wilde, Issue 122 Philosophy Now).
To read the article, please visit: https://philosophynow.org/issues/122/Embracing_Imperfection_Plato_vs_Nussbaum_On_Love
The following cartoon accompanied the print article on “The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness”, or ITT (Dr. H. Morch, Issue 121 Philosophy Now). To wit, “IIT is now one of the leading theories of consciousness in neuroscience” and is linked to the concept of integrated information, denoted by a mathematical quantity called Φ (‘phi’).
As per the article, “Systems with a low Φ have a small amount of consciousness – they only have very simple and rudimentary experiences. Systems with zero Φ are not conscious at all. [This implies that] IIT has radical implications. If IIT is true, we could in principle build a ‘consciousness-meter’ that tells us whether any system is conscious, and to what level: from comatose patients to infants; from simple animals and plants to robots and next generation AI.”
Check out the (radical theory!) article and Philosophy Now’s fantastic new website: https://philosophynow.org/issues/121/The_Integrated_Information_Theory_of_Consciousness
Also, see the following WIRED interview (and quote) with Christof Koch: https://www.wired.com/2013/11/christof-koch-panpsychism-consciousness/
Here are some things I’ve been – and am still – working on since I last posted.. I have discovered that trying to paint leaves is tedious as well as difficult.. so is painting people.. cats.. etc. etc 🙂
“Fences” work in progress.. leaves, leaves, leaves… never again!
Work in progress
“rabbit” work in progress.. still trying to understand how to do grass here..
bet you didn’t expect this one ha ha. This one was fun and based from a picasso drawing
I’ve recently been revisiting portraiture. The following work in acrylic is based off a faded photograph – messy easel provides a sense of scale.
Final piece (1m x 0.5m). Clay, canvas .. and a whole lot of glue.
The following is a work in progress. I’m trying to adhere sculpting medium to canvas which admittedly is trickier than I thought.. never mind realizing I could use some instruction in equine anatomy. However! It’s been an experience making this, as sculpting (for me) can be a highly finicky and detail-oriented, as opposed to painting which is a lot more free-flowing and fluid. I’ll post the final when complete. It measures roughly a metre by 3/4 of a metre.
Issue 120 of Philosophy Now is all about Bertrand Russell; who wouldn’t jump at the chance to illustrate that! The following cartoon accompanied an article “The Passionate Bertrand Russell” by Peter Stone. For more BR as seen through the eyes of Ernie, feel free to visit Ernie & The Conquest of Happiness.
This small piece is made of air-dry clay.
simonandfinn 