Nicholas Humphrey, an English psychologist known for his groundbreaking work in the evolution of consciousness and intelligence, explores the fascinating distinctions between sentience and consciousness. He discusses his pioneering discovery of blindsight in monkeys and the ethical questions surrounding animal research. Humphrey dives into concepts like 'qualophilia,' the evolutionary significance of consciousness, and the responsibilities that come with it. He also shares insights from his studies with gorillas, shedding light on the complexities of animal intelligence and behavior.
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insights INSIGHT
Defining Sentience vs. Consciousness
Sentience refers specifically to phenomenal consciousness, the qualitative sensory experiences like pain and color.
Consciousness is broader, including awareness of thoughts and intentions without sensory qualities.
insights INSIGHT
Critique of Access vs. Phenomenal Consciousness
Ned Block's distinction between access and phenomenal consciousness is largely incoherent; phenomenal consciousness is accessible and matters.
Sentience is a better term than phenomenal consciousness to avoid terminological confusion.
insights INSIGHT
Need for Clear Consciousness Terminology
Consciousness studies is currently a messy field plagued by inconsistent terminology and poorly defined questions.
Returning to clear, testable definitions is essential for progress in understanding consciousness.
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Jim talks with Nicholas Humphrey about the ideas in his 2023 book Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness. They discuss the distinction between sentience & consciousness, access consciousness vs phenomenal consciousness, terminology in consciousness studies, ring-fencing theories, Nicholas's early experiments with phosphenes, the discovery of blindsight in monkeys, his relationship with Helen the monkey, color preferences in monkeys, sensation vs perception, realism vs illusionism, consciousness as art, the concept of "ipsundrum," the evolution of consciousness as "all or nothing," the Fermi paradox & the uniqueness of consciousness, qualophilia, consciousness in birds & mammals, theory of mind in different species, and much more.
Episode Transcript
Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness, by Nicholas Humphrey
Seeing Red: A Study in Consciousness, by Nicholas Humphrey
"How did consciousness evolve?" - lecture by Nicholas Humphrey
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, by Charles Darwin
The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature, by Geoffrey Miller
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Nicholas Humphrey is an English psychologist who studies the evolution of intelligence and consciousness. He was the first to demonstrate the existence of "blindsight" in monkeys, studied mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey in Rwanda, proposed the celebrated theory of the "social function of intellect," and has investigated the evolutionary background of religion, art, healing, death-awareness, and suicide. His honours include the Martin Luther King Memorial Prize, the Pufendorf Medal, and the International Mind and Brain Prize. His most recent books are Seeing Red, Soul Dust, and Sentience.
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