Karl J. Friston

Thomas Parr

Giovanni Pezzulo

The first comprehensive treatment of active inference, an integrative perspective on brain, cognition, and behavior used across multiple disciplines. Active inference is a way of understanding sentient behavior—a theory that characterizes perception, planning, and action in terms of probabilistic inference. Developed by theoretical neuroscientist Karl Friston over years of groundbreaking research, active inference provides an integrated perspective on brain, cognition, and behavior that is increasingly used across multiple disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy. Active inference puts the action into perception. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of active inference, covering theory, applications, and cognitive domains. Active inference is a “first principles” approach to understanding behavior and the brain, framed in terms of a single imperative to minimize free energy. The book emphasizes the implications of the free energy principle for understanding how the brain works. It first introduces active inference both conceptually and formally, contextualizing it within current theories of cognition. It then provides specific examples of computational models that use active inference to explain such cognitive phenomena as perception, attention, memory, and planning.

The Free Energy Principle in Mind, Brain, and Behavior

Active Inference

The world is full of dark places that present obstacles to our joy. While people may instinctually turn to films, games, or social connections to brighten their day, Christians know they have a greater source of comfort and joy. In Joy in Dark Places, Thomas Parr reminds us that the Bible speaks of glorious realities that the darkest days cannot destroy. Readers will see how moral evil, calamity, and even bad theology steal our happiness. More importantly, they will see how the light of the gospel dispels disquiet and brings profound joy instead. Table of Contents: Joy and Obstacles to It Joy despite God’s Judgments in the Earth Law and Conviction Necessary for Joy Joy despite Fears of Spiritual Deterioration Joy from Empowerment and Even Chastening Joy from the Bible’s “Works-Oriented” Statements Joy in Renouncing All Forms of Legalism Joy by Quieting Your Conscience in the Cross To Have Joy You Must Have Faith To Have Joy You Must Obey Joy in God Incomprehensible Joy and Problem People in the Church Joy in Old Testament Promises to Israel Joy at the Prospect of Growing Old and Dying Biblical Joy versus Cheap Joy Joy Even When Society Disintegrates Joy at the Last Judgment: Looking Forward to a Judgment of Our Works Conclusion: Our Joy and God’s Glory

Joy in Dark Places

Ryan Smith

Karl Friston

Dimitrije Marković

Maxwell James D. Ramstead

Casper Hesp

Probabilistic Perspectives on Brain (dys)Function

William Strong (ca. 1611–1654) was an influential leader at the Westminster Assembly and was greatly admired by his contemporaries. However, in modern time, even those most indebted to the Westminster tradition are unfamiliar with this stalwart of the seventeenth century. In this book, Thomas Parr opens by introducing us to the significance of the life and ministry of Strong and then launches into a survey and summary of Strong’s teaching on the covenant of works. Along the way, this book shows that the condemnation from a covenant of works serves as a dark backdrop to display the glory of the covenant of grace. Table of Contents: Prologue: The Life of William Strong 1. The Curse of the First Covenant, Death 2. People in Adam Prefer the First Covenant 3. Sin Is Irritated by the Law 4. The Law’s Rigor and Coercion 5. All Those in Christ Are Transferred from the First Covenant 6. Transference by Union with Christ 7. The Law as a Covenant Abolished to All in Christ 8. To All in Christ, the First Covenant Serves the Second Conclusion: Experimental Covenant Theology Bibliography

The Covenant of Works according to William Strong

Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel

Thomas Parr

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