Samir Okasha

In this thought-provoking discussion, Samir Okasha, a leading philosopher of biology, tackles foundational questions about life and agency. He explores when matter becomes an agent and the origins of morality. The conversation delves into the interplay between altruism and selfishness, the significance of emergence in complex systems, and the implications of teleology in evolution. Okasha also examines mental representation across living beings and the philosophical complexities of consciousness, offering fresh insights into agency and artificial intelligence.

Samir Okasha, Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol, discusses the concept of agency in evolution, exploring definitions of agency, genes as agents, agency in group dynamics, and the relationship between agency and adaptation.