Editorial biography
Robert Wilson is an American philosopher of mind and cognitive scientist who has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between cognition, consciousness, and religious belief. As principal editor of The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (1999), Wilson helped establish key frameworks for examining how cognitive processes shape religious experience and belief formation. His work bridges philosophy of mind with cognitive science of religion, particularly in exploring how mental representation, embodied cognition, and collective intentionality relate to religious concepts and practices. Wilson's research on extended mind theory and group cognition has implications for understanding religious communities and shared religious experiences. His interdisciplinary approach has influenced debates about the naturalness of religious belief, the cognitive origins of God concepts, and the relationship between individual and collective religious cognition.