Love & Philosophy #6: Scales & Science Fiction with Michael Levin
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Nov 2, 2023 
Tufts biologist Michael Levin discusses scales of cognition, science fiction's role in expanding perspectives, and the need to redefine life and mind. The conversation delves into non-binary perspectives in developmental biology, self-realization, morphogenesis, and collective intelligence, challenging conventional boundaries in science and philosophy.
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Childhood Wonder of Life and Tech
- Michael Levin recalls connecting a TV set's complexity with caterpillars and butterflies as a child.
- He wondered what was common and different between living creatures and technology.
Observer Scale Limits Perception
- Observer scale shapes what agency we perceive in systems.
- Tools used to measure a system influence the kind of intelligence or agency detected.
Redefine Intelligence to Advance Science
- Scientists must clarify and redefine terms like intelligence to overcome limiting conventional usages.
- Leading change in scientific language helps reshape public understanding and acceptance.