Consciousness Live! Hakwan Lau Live!
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Jun 19, 2020 Hakwan Lau, a UCLA professor specializing in cognitive neuroscience and philosophy, dives deep into the critiques of Integrated Information Theory and its implications for understanding consciousness. He explores the complexities of human versus artificial consciousness, using Star Trek's Commander Data as a reference point. The conversation also questions the nature of perceptual experiences, like color perception, and how mental and sensory experiences can be misrepresented. Finally, Lau discusses the challenges facing consciousness science in today's sensationalist environment.
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IIT Criticism
- Hakwan Lau finds Integrated Information Theory (IIT) scientifically and philosophically flawed.
- He believes it obstructs consciousness research by posing as empirically supported.
Panqualityism vs. Panpsychism
- Panqualityism suggests qualities like redness are ubiquitous, even in electrons.
- Lau finds this less bizarre than panpsychism, where experiences are everywhere.
Philosophy's Impact on Science
- Lau argues some philosophical work damages consciousness science.
- He emphasizes the sociological impact of outlandish theories on funding.