Keith Frankish: What is Descartes' Prison? Illusionism as Intuition Pumps for Consciousness Theories
Aug 2, 2024
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Keith Frankish, an Honorary Reader in Philosophy, dives into the realm of consciousness and illusionism. He discusses 'Descartes' Prison,' where he presents complex philosophical ideas in relatable terms. The conversation highlights the distinction between illusionism and surrealism, comparing consciousness to magic. Ethical ramifications of illusionism are explored, along with the mechanics of perception and reactivity. Frankish also critiques prevailing theories on consciousness, urging a fresh perspective on subjective experiences and their interpretations.
The accelerated pace of life since the pandemic highlights the need for a philosophical lens to navigate meaningful living amidst technological advancements.
Keith Frankish emphasizes the imperative for philosophers to address ethical dilemmas emerging from the rise of AI and deep learning.
The comparison of trained ethicists with ordinary individuals sheds light on the value of lived experience over formal ethical training.
The re-examination of consciousness through reactivity reveals the limitations of subjective experiences and challenges traditional assumptions about awareness.
The dialogue between philosophy and science fosters a deeper understanding of consciousness, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in exploring these complex topics.
Deep dives
Life After the Pandemic
The discussion highlights significant changes in the speaker's life since the pandemic, emphasizing the accelerated pace of life. The speaker shares personal updates, including their children growing up and the partner's fellowship at Yale, which focuses on components of a flourishing life within the context of increasing technological presence. Notably, this exploration raises critical questions about living a meaningful life amid technological advancements. The importance of considering how intelligent technology influences well-being and ethical considerations is underscored.
The Philosophical Moment
A key point in the conversation centers on the increasing relevance of philosophy in contemporary society, especially regarding ethics related to emerging technologies. The speaker posits that with the rise of advanced AI and deep learning, there is a pressing need for philosophical insights to understand its implications. This moment in history calls for philosophical guidance to navigate ethical dilemmas surrounding technology's role in human life. Philosophers, therefore, must step up and contribute valuable discourse on these crucial issues.
Reflections on Ethical Decision-Making
A fascinating exploration emerges on who should be trusted to make ethical decisions, comparing trained ethicists to ordinary individuals. The speaker indicates that research shows ethicists often perform similarly to average people when faced with moral dilemmas, raising questions about their unique value. The preference for lived experience versus formal training in ethical reasoning is discussed, suggesting that practical wisdom may outweigh academic credentials. This perspective fosters a debate about the role of philosophical training in ethical decision-making.
The Legacy of Dan Dennett
The loss of Dan Dennett, a prominent philosophical influence, is profoundly felt during the conversation, prompting reflections on his contributions to philosophy and communication. The speaker underscores Dennett's unique ability to bridge complex ideas with effective communication, making them accessible to a broader audience. Memories of personal engagement with Dennett are shared, highlighting his supportive nature toward emerging thinkers. This tribute underscores the lasting impact of his work and the importance of continuing his intellectual legacy.
Investigating Consciousness and Illusionism
The exploration of consciousness and the concept of illusionism is a central theme, challenging fundamental assumptions about subjective experience. The speaker stresses that consciousness is often misconceived due to the human tendency to assign importance to subjective qualities. By reconsidering consciousness through the lens of reactivity and its underlying neural mechanisms, the discussion emphasizes the potential for a more grounded understanding. This approach aims to reveal how subjective experiences, while real, may not align with our preconceived notions of what they entail.
Interrogating Idealism and Panpsychism
The conversation delves into alternative philosophical positions such as idealism and panpsychism, weighing their merits against more materialistic views of consciousness. The speaker critiques idealism for creating overly complex metaphysics that often lacks empirical grounding, while also acknowledging the appeal of panpsychist notions. The challenges posed by these positions are highlighted, particularly regarding their implications for understanding consciousness and reality. Ultimately, the discussion advocates for a more simplified, grounded approach to consciousness that prioritizes empirical inquiry.
The Ethics of Consciousness
The ethical implications surrounding different theories of consciousness form a significant part of the dialogue, questioning how these perspectives influence our treatment of other beings. The speaker argues that views suggesting a binary understanding of consciousness could lead to devaluation of non-human entities. Exploring how our moral considerations might shift with a reconceptualization of consciousness leads to reflections on expanding ethical concern to all sentient beings. The importance of understanding the interconnectedness of life and ethical responsibilities is reinforced.
Understanding Free Will
An engaging discussion on free will recognizes that many people struggle with reconciling their subjective experiences of choice with deterministic views of the universe. The speaker advocates for a compatibilist perspective, arguing that free will can exist within a deterministic framework. By positing that our understanding of self and agency can operate independently of the constraints of a purely deterministic worldview, the speaker highlights the potential for personal responsibility and authentic decision-making. This perspective broadens the discussion around agency, emphasizing a grounded understanding of freedom.
Rethinking Perceptual Illusions
The conversation touches on perceptual illusions and introspection, drawing parallels with cognitive biases that twist our understanding of consciousness. The speaker posits that if we accept that our perceptual mechanisms can mislead us, it follows that introspective capabilities may also be subject to similar distortions. This notion challenges entrenched beliefs about innately knowing our mental states, suggesting that awareness of our internal processes may be just as vulnerable to illusions. A deeper exploration of the implications of these insights can further illuminate our understanding of consciousness.
Integrating Science and Philosophy
A compelling discussion arises about the relationship between philosophical inquiry and scientific exploration, particularly in the realm of consciousness studies. The speaker conveys that philosophical frameworks can act as bridges to articulate the nuances of complex scientific findings. By fostering dialogue between these disciplines, new avenues for understanding consciousness can emerge, providing more comprehensive insights. This collaborative approach has the potential to enrich both scientific and philosophical discussions, opening the door to more nuanced explorations of consciousness.
Keith Frankish is a Honorary Reader in Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, a Visiting Research Fellow at The Open University, & an Adjunct Professor with the Brain & Mind Programme in Neurosciences at the University of Crete. He is the author of "Mind and Supermind" & "Consciousness", as well as numerous journal articles & book chapters. He is the editor of "Illusionism as a Theory of Consciousness" & the co-editor of "In Two Minds: Dual Processes and Beyond", "New Waves in Philosophy of Action", "The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Science", & "The Cambridge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence". Keith’s research interests lie mainly in philosophy of mind, and he is known for defending an illusionist theory of phenomenal consciousness, an action-based account of conscious thought, and a two-level view of the human mind.
TIMESTAMPS:
(0:00) - Introduction
(0:50) - Philosophy of Philosophers & Ethics of Ethicists
(7:48) - Daniel C. Dennett (a tribute)
(19:24) - The Four Horsemen (New Atheism)
(25:12) - Consciousness & Illusionism Explained
(33:06) - Illusionism vs Surrealism (Redder than Red)
(43:13) - Descartes' Prison
(47:54) - Ethical Implications of Illusionism
(51:20) - François Kammerer's work on Illusionism
(1:09:32) - Robert Lawrence Kuhn's "Landscape of Consciousness"
(1:12:00) - Reactivity Schema Theory (answer to the "Illusion Problem")
(1:32:36) - Questions for Keith from X
(2:09:25) - Idealism
(2:11:31) - Is IIT pseudoscience?
(2:21:15) - Illusionism is an Intuition Pump for Consciousness
(2:27:40) - Tricks of the Mind
(2:35:15) - Free Will Compatibilism
(2:43:08) - Keith's final thoughts
EPISODE LINKS:
- Keith's Website: https://www.keithfrankish.com/
- Keith's Round 1: https://youtu.be/QxDYG0K360E
- Mind Chat Podcast: https://youtube.com/@mindchat
- Keith's Twitter: https://twitter.com/keithfrankish?s=20
- Keith's Illusionism Lectures: https://tinyurl.com/bddbcyyu
CONNECT:
- Website: https://tevinnaidu.com
- Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drtevinnaidu
- X: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtevinnaidu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtevinnaidu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu
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