Philosophy of Mind Researcher

Rethinking agency through the predictive brain.

I'm Marianne McAllister, a philosophy graduate from Macquarie University working at the intersection of predictive processing, philosophy of mind, and the free will debate — currently developing two research projects: Adaptive, and a working paper translating Bratman's theory of agency into predictive processing.

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Years developing Adaptive

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HD philosophy units

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Academic awards

about

The mind doesn't just react to the world — it predicts it.

I'm a philosophy graduate from Macquarie University working at the intersection of philosophy of mind, predictive processing, and the free will debate. My primary research project, Adaptive, translates predictive processing into a disciplined, self-directed methodology — alongside an active working paper translating Michael Bratman's planning theory of agency into the vocabulary of predictive processing.

Research areas

Predictive Processing & Bayesian Brain Theories

Enactive Cognition

Affordances & Ecological Psychology

Moral Responsibility & Free Will

Research areas

Predictive Processing & Bayesian Brain Theories

Enactive Cognition

Affordances & Ecological Psychology

Moral Responsibility & Free Will

Method

How I work

01

Ground it in established theory

Start from mechanisms the literature already supports — precision-weighting, active inference, planning theory — rather than speculation.

01

Ground it in established theory

Start from mechanisms the literature already supports — precision-weighting, active inference, planning theory — rather than speculation.

02

Extend deliberately, and say so

Where the work goes beyond current literature, mark clearly what's a reasonable extension and what's closer to hypothesis.

02

Extend deliberately, and say so

Where the work goes beyond current literature, mark clearly what's a reasonable extension and what's closer to hypothesis.

03

Translate without diluting

Carry the rigour of the source theory into its new context — a working paper, a practical methodology — without losing what made it rigorous.

03

Translate without diluting

Carry the rigour of the source theory into its new context — a working paper, a practical methodology — without losing what made it rigorous.

testimonial

In their words

Pierrick Bourrat

Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University

"I intend to hire Marianne as a research assistant for my own DECRA and John Templeton Foundation projects based on my interactions with her over the last few months and her reputation in the department of philosophy."

Affiliations
Macquarie University
Australasian Association of Philosophy
Cogito
(Philosophy Society journal)
Effective Altruism Society
Applying for postgraduate study — 2026

Have a question about the research? Get in touch.

No lengthy forms, no cold pitches — just a straightforward conversation about the research, a collaboration, or where it's headed next.

Applying for postgraduate study — 2026

Have a question about the research? Get in touch.

No lengthy forms, no cold pitches — just a straightforward conversation about the research, a collaboration, or where it's headed next.

Applying for postgraduate study — 2026

Have a question about the research? Get in touch.

No lengthy forms, no cold pitches — just a straightforward conversation about the research, a collaboration, or where it's headed next.