I am a cognitive scientist and philosopher.

Humans are similar to other great apes in many ways. Yet the few differences that do exist combine to generate social and cultural systems: Languages, symbols, technologies, institutions, democracies and more. How and why does this happen? And why humans? These are the big questions that shape my research, teaching and thinking.

I have a particular focus on the evolution of communication and languages.

I am Research Affiliate at the Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University; and associate member of the Centre for Language Evolution, University of Edinburgh.

When not working I dance the lindy hop.

I write an occasional Substack column, Ideas Big & Simple. Read and subscribe here.