Paul David Robinson

I'm currently a postdoctoral associate at the Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science. I specialize in the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of psychology and cognitive science, and the study of human reasoning and decision-making.

I grew up in Northern Ireland, a region of the United Kingdom. I identify as both British and Irish but prefer to be referred to as "Northern Irish". (If people are told I'm British they tend to assume I'm from England, and if people are told I'm Irish they tend to assume I'm from the Republic of Ireland!)

Thanks for your interest in my work. Scroll down for more biographical details and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or requests (see my CV for contact details).

I worked as a qualified plasterer in the construction industry but my experiences during the conflict in my home country (known as "the Troubles") led me to ponder the big questions of life and pursue a degree in Philosophy at Queen's University Belfast.

I subsequently gained an M.Sc. in Philosophy of Science at the London School of Economics, and an M.Sc. in Cognitive and Decision Sciences at University College London.

I then gained a Ph.D. in Philosophy with Interdisciplinary Specialization in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, under the direction of Richard Samuels, Declan Smithies, and Neil Tennant. My dissertation is on social theories of reasoning.

I have a keen interest in paleontology and archaeology, especially as they relate to the evolution of human cognition and culture.

I spent one season digging at Tell Burna (ancient Libnah), where I helped uncover a Judean settlement from the 8th Century BCE, and three seasons digging at Tell es-Safi (ancient Gath), where I helped uncover a Philistine settlement from the 9th and 10th Centuries BCE.

At Tell es-Safi I supervised four squares in Area D. On the left you can see me drinking from a Philistine jug and tutoring two new students.