Jim has a wide-ranging talk with neuroscientist Antonio Damasio about his latest book, Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious... Jim has a wide-ranging talk with neuroscientist Antonio Damasio about his latest book, Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious. They discuss the importance of separating intelligence from the nervous system, feeling as the inaugural event of consciousness, distinguishing consciousness from mind, the permeability of intellectual & affective processes, debunking William James's "stream of consciousness" metaphor, interoception, proprioception, & exteroception, how anesthesia works, attention as the cursor of consciousness, introducing vulnerability into AI, and much more. Episode Transcript Feeling & Knowing: Making Minds Conscious, by Antonio Damasio JRS EP97 - Emery Brown on Consciousness & Anesthesia Antonio Damasio is Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology and Philosophy, and Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Trained as both neurologist and neuroscientist, Damasio has made seminal contributions to the understanding of brain processes underlying emotions, feelings, and consciousness. His work on the role of affect in decision-making has made a major impact in neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy. He is the author of several hundred scientific articles and is one of the most eminent psychologists of the modern era (see Damasio, A. Feelings and Decisions. In: R. Sternberg, S. Fiske, D. Foss (Eds.), Scientists Making a Difference: One Hundred Eminent Behavioral and Brain Scientists Talk about Their Most Important Contributions, 2016). He is one of the most cited scientists worldwide.

Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio discusses consciousness, the relationship between mind and consciousness, perception, mental illness, evolution, panpsychism, AI, and machine learning. He explores the evolution of emotions, feelings, and consciousness, emphasizing the social aspect of emotions and the distinction between feelings and emotions.

Join Antonio Damasio, an esteemed neuroscientist from USC, as he unravels the complexities of consciousness and its ties to emotions. He clarifies the distinction between mind, intelligence, and consciousness, arguing that consciousness emerges from bodily sensations and emotions. Damasio delves into panpsychism, the evolution of feelings, and the challenges AI faces in replicating true consciousness, emphasizing that feeling is foundational to sentience. This thought-provoking discussion challenges conventional beliefs about our minds and the essence of being.

Antonio Damasio, a renowned neuroscientist and professor at USC, emphasizes the vital role emotions play in shaping human experiences. He explores how feelings are fundamental to our evolution, influencing everything from survival to social constructs like religion and politics. Damasio also discusses the limitations of AI in capturing human emotions and how understanding feelings can enhance societal dynamics. He draws on philosophical insights from Hume and Spinoza, revealing the deep connections between our emotions, consciousness, and the fabric of human society.

Dr. Antonio Damasio, a pioneering neuroscientist and philosopher, delves into the fascinating interplay between emotions, feelings, and consciousness. He clarifies how emotions are observable actions, while feelings are subjective experiences shaped by our biology. Damasio discusses the evolutionary development of consciousness and how understanding this can enhance well-being. He also explores the mind-body connection, emphasizing ownership of mental experiences, and offers strategies for managing fear in high-pressure situations. His insights promise to expand your understanding of the mind’s complexities.