Bio
Axel Seemann works in the philosophy of mind and is particularly interested in the mind's social dimension, on which he has written numerous articles and a monograph. More recently he has become interested in loneliness as a prominent social phenomenon of our time. He worked as a management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group and used to be a television journalist in Berlin.
Professional Links
Professional Memberships
American Philosophical Association PresentLoneliness & Social Isolation in Mental Health 2019 - PresentAwards and Honors
2011, Visiting Research Fellowship, King's College London2009, Valente Research Fellowship, Valente Center for the Arts and Sciences2009, Visiting Research Fellowship, University of Hertfordshire2009, Conference Grant, National Science Foundation2004, Research Grant, The Boston Consulting Group1999, Visiting Scholarship, UC Berkeley1998, Graduate Studentship, British Academy1996, Graduate Studentship, Friedrich-Naumann-StiftungPublications
Journal Articles
Seemann, A. (2024). Joint Attention as the Foundation of Common Knowledge and Collective Intentionality. Topoi. Seemann, A. (2024). Joint Perception, Joint Attention, Joint Know-How. Philosophical Psychology. Seemann, A., Hughes, E., Roberts, T., Krueger, J. (2023). Introduction. Topoi, (42) 5Seemann, A. (2023). Loneliness, Psychological Models, and Self-Estrangement. Topoi. Seemann, A. (2022). The Public Character of Visual Objects: Shape Perception, Joint Attention, and Standpoint-Transcendence. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Seemann, A. (2022). The Psychological Structure of Loneliness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, (19) 3 (Link)Seemann, A. (2021). An Externalist Theory of Social Understanding: Interaction, Psychological Models, and the Frame Problem. Review of Philosophy and Psychology. (Link)Seemann, A. (2019). Reminiscing Together. Synthese, (196) 12 4813-4828. Forthcoming.Seemann, A. (2011). Joint Motor Action and Cross-Creature Embodiment. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, (2) 2 279-301. Seemann, A. (2011). The Role of Joint Experience in Historical Narratives. Journal of the Philosophy of History, (5) 2 201-229. Seemann, A. (2010). The Other Person in Joint Attention: A Relational Approach. Journal of Consciousness Studies, (17) 5-6 161-182. Seemann, A. (2009). Why We Did It: An Anscombian Approach to Collective Action Explanation. International Journal of Philosophical Studies, (17) 5 637 - 655. Seemann, A. (2009). Joint Agency: Intersubjectivity, Sense of Control, and the Feeling of Trust. Inquiry, (52) 2 500-515. Seemann, A. (2008). Person Perception. Philosophical Explorations, (11) 3 245 - 262. Seemann, A. (2007). Collective Knowledge and the 'We'-Perspective. Social Epistemology, (21) 3 217 - 230. (Link)Seemann, A. (2007). Strategy: Rationality, Intuition, and Accountability. Philosophy of Management, (6) 1 123 - 134. (Link)Seemann, A. (2007). Rational Trust: Interview with Onora O'Neill. Philosophy of Management, (6) 2 3-8. Seemann, A. (2004). Lifeworld, Discourse, and Realism: on Juergen Habermas's theory of truth. Philosophy and Social Criticism, (30) 4 503 - 514.
Books
Seemann, A. (2019). The Shared World: Perceptual Common Knowledge, Demonstrative Communication, and Social Space. MIT Press (Link)Seemann, A. (2012). Joint Attention: New Developments in Psychology, Philosophy of Mind, and Social Neuroscience. 350. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Book Chapters
Seemann, A. (2023). Eine Modelltheoretische Erklärung der Einsamkeit [A Model-Theoretic Account of Loneliness] In L. Arlt, N. Becker, S. Mann & T. Wirtz, (Eds.) Einsamkeit in Gesellschaft. Transcript VerlagSeemann, A. (2013). Joint Attention and Social Cognition In Byron Kaldis, (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences. London: Sage Forthcoming.Seemann, A. (2013). Social Cognition, Social Reality, and Social Science In Byron Kaldis, (Eds.) Mind & Society. Dordrecht: Springer Synthese Series Forthcoming.Seemann, A. (2012). Joint Attention: Towards a Relational Account In Axel Seemann, (Eds.) Joint Attention: New Developments. 183 - 202. Cambridge MA: MIT Press Forthcoming.Seemann, A. (2011). The Evaluative Dimension of Self-Awareness In Keith Lehrer, Anita Konzelmann-Ziv, Hans-Bernhard Schmid, (Eds.) Self-Evaluation: Affective and Social Grounds of Intentionality. 45 - 58. Frankfurt: Ontos Forthcoming.Frederick, R. E., Seemann, A. (2008). Rationality In Robert W. Kolb, (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications
Presentations
Seemann, A. (2023). “Joint Know-How and Its Perceptual Base” Presented at the University of Antwerp Group Knowledge and Joint Expertise Antwerp, Belgium Seemann, A. (2023). “Loneliness and Social Connection” Presented at the University of York The Phenomenology of Loss York, UK Seemann, A. (2023). “Loneliness and the Self” Presented at the University of York Graduate Seminar York, UK Seemann, A. (2022). “The Psychological Structure of Loneliness” Presented at theXVI Congress of the Portuguese Society of Psychiatry Lisbon, Portugal Seemann, A. (2022). “Loneliness and Social Space” Presented at the University of Sczeczin Alone TogetherSeemann, A. (2022). “Loneliness and Social Space” Presented at the University of York Graduate Seminar on LonelinessSeemann, A. (2021). “An Externalist Account of Perceptual Common Knowledge” Presented at the University College London Common Knowledge at 40Seemann, A. (2021). “Loneliness and the Social Environment” Presented at the Bentley University Loneliness in Philosophy and Psychology Online Seemann, A. (2021). “An Externalist Solution to the Problem of Common Knowledge” Presented at the University College London Common Knowledge, Common Ground, and Context in Communication London UK Seemann, A. (2020). “What Do We Mean By "Loneliness"?” Presented at the University College London Meeting of the "Loneliness and Isolation in Mental Health Network" London UK Seemann, A. (2018). “Joint Perception, Social Space, and the Limits of the Self” Presented at the"Open Self" Conference Technical University of Berlin Seemann, A. (2018). “The Spatial Structure of Demonstrative Communication” Presented at the University of Milan "Communication and Cooperation" Milan Seemann, A. (2018). “The Public Nature of Perceptual Evidence” Presented at the Valente Center for the Arts and Sciences Valente Research Seminar Waltham, MA Seemann, A. (2017). “Perspective-Taking and the Social Spatial Framework” Presented at the Queen Mary University Joint Action Meeting London, UK Seemann, A. (2016). “Joint Experience, Demonstrative Reference, and Spatial Perception” Presented at the University of London ICOG 3 London, UK Seemann, A. (2015). “Joint Action, Joint Attention, Joint Experience” Presented at the European University Joint Action Meeting Budapest, Hungary Seemann, A. (2015). “Pointing and Demonstrative Reference” Presented at the University of Connecticut Pointing and Gestural CommunicationSeemann, A. (2014). “Collective Consciousness and the Biology Constraint” Presented at the Bristol University Collectivity Bristol, UK Seemann, A. (2014). “Groups, Explanation, and Collective Understanding” Presented at the University of Copenhagen Thinking About Groups Copenhagen, Denmark Seemann, A. (2014). “The Phenomenology of Face-to-Face Encounters” Presented at the University of Arizona, Tucson Towards a Science of Consciousness Tucson Seemann, A. (2014). “Joint Attention and the Self-Other Distinction” Presented at the University of Lisbon Self and the Social Lisbon, Portugal Seemann, A. (2013). “Joint Attention: A New Approach” Presented at the Gujarat Institute of Technology Cognition, Emotion, and Action Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Seemann, A. (2013). “The Role of Understanding in Demonstrative Reference” Presented at the UC Berkeley Social Ontology Seminar Berkeley CA Seemann, A. (2012). “Against Sharing: Intersubjectivity and Cross-Creature Embodiment” Presented at the University of Manchester Collective Intentionality VIII Manchester UK Seemann, A. (2012). “Against Sharing: Intersubjectivity and Cross-Creature Embodiment” Presented at the University of Ankara Minds, Bodies, Problems Ankara, Turkey Seemann, A. (2011). “The Social Dimension of Perceptual Experience” Presented at the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness Annual Meeting Kyoto Seemann, A. (2011). “Joint Action: A Perception-based Approach” Presented at the University of Vienna Joint Action Meeting Vienna Seemann, A. (2011). “Mental Sharing, Cross-Creature Embodiment, and Mirror Neurons” Presented at the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness Neuroscience Satellite Kyoto Seemann, A. (2011). “Perceptual Experience and the Study of What There Is” Presented at the Shalem Center Psycho-Ontology Jerusalem Seemann, A. (2010). “From Feeling Perception to Joint Action: The Case for Social Externalism” Presented at the University of Basel Collective Intentionality VIISeemann, A. (2010). “Intersubjectivity, Co-Operation, and Moral Agency” Presented at the University of Salamanca Ethics and EmotionsSeemann, A. (2010). “Narratives, Selves, and Common Cause Experiences” Presented at the American Philosophical Association Pacific Division MeetingSeemann, A. (2010). “Gaze Following, Mirror Neurons, and Attentional Capture” Presented at the Duke University, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience Research Meeting Durham, NC Seemann, A. (2010). “Neuroscience: Affectivity, Adaptivity, and Learning in Organizations” Seemann, A. (2009). “Sources of Trust: Feelings, Reasons, and the Participant Stance” Presented at theEthics and Politics Without Borders: The Work of Onora O'Neill British Academy, London Seemann, A. (2009). “The Other Person in Joint Attention” Presented at theJoint Attention: Developments in Developmental and Comparative Psychology, Philosophy of Mind, and Bentley University, Waltham, MA Seemann, A. (2009). “Narrative, Causation, and Action Explanation” Seemann, A. (2009). “The Evaluative Dimension of Self-Awareness” Seemann, A. (2008). “Collectivity, Action, and Feelings” Presented at theCollective Intentionality VI Berkeley, CA Seemann, A. (2007). “Action, Intention, and Narrative” Presented at theNarrative Alternatives to Theories of Mind University of Hertfordshire Seemann, A. (2007). “Joint Attention and Group Membership” Presented at thePhilosophy of Management St. Anne's College, Oxford Seemann, A. (2007). “Joint Attention and Action” Presented at theSocial Ontology Seminar Berkeley, CA Seemann, A. (2007). “Joint Attention, Affective Perception, and Trust” Presented at theUnderstanding Other Minds and Moral Agency College of the Holy Cross; Worcester, MA Seemann, A. (2006). “Collective Knowledge and the 'We'-Perspective” Presented at theSeminar on Social Ontology Berkeley, CA Seemann, A. (2006). “Meanings of 'We'” Presented at theWollheim Society Berkeley, CA Seemann, A. (2005). “Brand Names, Sense, and Reference” Presented at thePhilosophy of Management 05 Oxford Service
Department Service
Committee Chair for Lecturer Search Committee 2021 - PresentMajor Advisor 2021 - PresentCommittee Member for Sabbatical Committee 2020 - PresentCommittee Chair for Lecturer Search Committee 2023 - 2024Committee Chair for TT Search Committee 2021 - 2022Assurance of Learning Champion for Bentley University 2016 - 2019LSM Advisor 2014 - 2019Champion! for Assurance of Learning 2017 - 2018Major/Minor Advisor 2016 - 2017Interim Department Chair for Bentley University 2016 - 2016University Service
Committee Member for Research Council 2022 - PresentCommittee Member for PhD Council 2020 - PresentDepartment Chair for Philosophy Department 2020 - PresentCommittee Member for Sabbatical Committee 2019 - PresentCommittee Chair for Research Council, Bentley Website Research Portal 2023 - 2024Conference/Workshop Organizer for Valente Humanities Seminar 2022 - 2023PhD Council Committee: Academic Standards 2019 - 2019PhD Council 2018 - 2019Salary&Benefits 2017 - 2019Member for University Senate 2017 - 2019Committee Member for Academic Standards - 2015Task Force Member for Honors Programme 2011 - 2011Advisory Board, Valente Center 2007 - 2011Professional Service
Chairperson for Valente Research Seminar 2022 - PresentCommittee Member for Conference Organisation Committee 2021 - PresentReviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer for Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 2021 - 2021Conference Organisation Committee 2020 - 2021Conference/Workshop Organizer for Conference Organisation 2021 - 2021Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer for Journal of Consciousness Studies 2020 - 2020Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer for Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 2020 - 2020Reviewer, Journal Article for Human Development - 2014Reviewer, Journal Article for Journal of Consciousness Studies - 2014Reviewer, Journal Article for New Ideas in Psychology - 2014Reviewer, Journal Article for Philosophical Psychology - 2014Reviewer, Journal Article for Review of Philosophy and Psychology - 2014
