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Behind the search for human happiness, satisfaction, understanding, and
value, lie the timeless queries about the nature of the human mind, human
thought, and human emotions. While these questions are philosophical,
social, and theological, their answers rest in part on our ability to
scientifically access the human mind, the human brain, and the relation
between the two. It is this informed access to mind and brain that is
the core of the mission of The Krasnow Institute. While our goals and
tools are scientific, we also are fully cognizant of the applications
of the results for the benefit of mankind, in areas like mental health,
neurological diseases, and computer design. It was the enormous potential
inherent in this research mission which was Shelley Krasnow's goal in
endowing the Institute. In asking the major questions we realize the necessity
of being flexible, innovative, and trans-disciplinary. Therefore, we are
dedicated to bringing together scholars from a wide variety of specialties
and providing a milieu where they can be both productive and interactive.
We will provide these researchers with the tools required to move ahead
and create an environment of optimal scientific integrity coupling innovation
with risk taking.
While all modern disciplines are appropriate input for our endeavors,
we are especially attuned to the deep insights from evolutionary biology,
which is at the root of understanding all organismic functions including
cognition; computer studies of complex systems, which present a revolution
in our ability to deal with the world of interactive agents; and a long
history of cognitive psychology, which provides a huge data base of human
abilities and responses.
In the end, we believe that there is no substitute for recruiting the
very best people and turning them loose to explore the fascinating world
of thought somehow emergent from our biological nature and evolution as
Homo sapiens.
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The
Vision