Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal Michael Levin Λ Karl Friston Λ Chris Fields on The Meta Hard Problem, Consciousness, and Babbling
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Jun 29, 2022 
Michael Levin, a developmental biologist at Tufts University, explores the intersection of biology and cognition. Karl Friston, a neuroscience pioneer from UCL, discusses the free energy principle's implications for consciousness. Chris Fields, a researcher in field theory, investigates what defines an observer. Together, they tackle the meta hard problem of consciousness, question the emergence of self-awareness, and delve into how embryonic dynamics reflect cognitive processes, likening cellular 'babbling' to human curiosity.
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Respect for Multidisciplinary Expertise
- Michael Levin respects Carl Friston and Chris Fields for their expertise in multiple fields.
- Their ability to merge these fields leads to new ideas.
Out-of-the-Box Thinking
- Carl Friston appreciates the out-of-the-box thinking of Michael Levin and Chris Fields.
- They ask fundamental questions about self-organization and draw counterintuitive conclusions.
Scaling of Cognition
- Michael Levin is fascinated by the scaling of cognition, from simple systems to complex ones.
- He questions where cognition begins and how it relates to life.