Robert Lawrence Kuhn, creator of the PBS series Closer To Truth, dives into the depths of consciousness and existence. He shares his transformative journey from business to academia, fueled by a passion for understanding the mind-body problem. Kuhn discusses the evolution of consciousness studies, collaborative insights from thought leaders, and the emotional weight of intellectual legacies. He also delves into materialism's challenges, explores various consciousness theories, and reflects on the community forged through philosophical inquiry.

In this discussion, Chris Fields, an independent scientist with a rich background in physics and cognitive neuroscience, explores the fascinating intersection of consciousness and quantum mechanics. He delves into the concept of minimal physicalism and its implications for understanding consciousness across different life forms. Topics include the free energy principle's role in explaining complexities, the philosophical debates around the mind-body problem, and how quantum uncertainties challenge traditional views of reality. It's a thought-provoking journey into the nature of awareness and existence.

Murray Shanahan, a Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London and a principal research scientist at Google DeepMind, dives deep into the intersection of consciousness and artificial intelligence. He explores whether the robot Ava from 'Ex Machina' was truly conscious, critiques the Turing Test, and discusses the concept of 'Conscious Exotica.' The conversation also touches on the Attention Schema Theory and the implications of embodied cognition for AI, rounding off with thoughts on the future of consciousness in a technological age.

In this discussion, Terrence Deacon, a prominent anthropologist from UC Berkeley, shares insights on the evolution of human cognition. He dives into the mind-body conundrum, exploring the significance of presence and absence in life. Deacon critiques traditional computational views of thought and examines the role of constraints in the emergence of life. He also discusses the intricate link between language, consciousness, and evolution, ultimately offering a fresh perspective on the dynamic interplay of complexity and simplicity in cognitive processes.

Professor David Papineau is a British academic philosopher. He works as Professor of Philosophy of Science at King's College London and the City University of New York Graduate Center, and previously taught for several years at Cambridge University, where he was a fellow of Robinson College. He did a BSc in Mathematics at the University of Natal, followed by a BA and PhD in philosophy at Cambridge. After academic posts at Reading, Macquarie, Birkbeck, and Cambridge, he joined King's College London in 1990. From 2015-21 he spent half of each year at the Graduate Center of CUNY in New York. he was President of the Mind Association in 2009 and the Aristotelian Society in 2014. He has written widely on epistemology, metaphysics and the philosophy of science and mind. My books include: For Science in the Social Sciences (1979), Theory and Meaning (1990), Reality and Representation (1987), Philosophical Naturalism (1992), Thinking about Consciousness (2002), Philosophical Devices (2012), Knowing the Score (2017), and The Metaphysics of Sensory Experience (2021). TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) - Introduction (0:23) - History of the Mind-Body Problem (5:14) - Robert Lawrence Kuhn's Landscape of Consciousness and Physicalism (9:43) - Illusionism (14:32) - Emergentism (16:46) - David's current thoughts about Consciousness (22:33) - Intelligence vs Consciousness (25:30) - Panpsychism (34:40) - Consciousness & Moral Standing (41:12) - Hard Problem or Easy Problems? (45:32) - Mary Thought Experiment Explained (58:59) - David's definition of Consciousness (1:05:37) - Will we ever solve the mind-body problem? (1:10:15) - David on Free Will & Daniel Dennett (1:15:25) - David's upcoming book: "Causes" (About causation, probabilities etc.) 1:18:50) - Conclusion EPISODE LINKS: - David's Website: https://www.davidpapineau.co.uk/ - David's Books: https://tinyurl.com/4e55a6k9 - David's Publications: https://tinyurl.com/47sdussx - David's X: https://twitter.com/davidpapineau CONNECT: - Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drtevinnaidu - Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtevinnaidu - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu ============================= Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

Federico Faggin, an Italian-American physicist and the mind behind the first commercial microprocessor, explores groundbreaking ideas linking consciousness and quantum reality. He discusses how consciousness intertwines with quantum phenomena, challenging traditional materialist views. Faggin delves into free will, the distinction between human experience and robotic capabilities, and the role of interconnectedness in self-awareness. He also reflects on meditation and its power to elevate consciousness, emphasizing a cooperative approach to personal growth and understanding.

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.

Tony Nader, a medical doctor and Vedic scholar, discusses consciousness, higher states of consciousness, and ethical implications. He explores the relationship between consciousness and physical reality, different levels of consciousness, and the practical applications of idealist philosophies.

John Vervaeke, Ph.D. is an award-winning Professor at the University of Toronto in the departments of Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Buddhist Psychology. He currently teaches courses in the Psychology department. He is the director of the Cognitive Science program, and the director of the Consciousness and the Wisdom Studies Laboratory. He has won and been nominated for several teaching awards, including the 2001 Students’ Administrative Council and Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students Teaching Award for the Humanities, and the 2012 Ranjini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award. He has published articles on relevance realization, general intelligence, mindfulness, flow, metaphor, and wisdom. He is the first author of the book Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century crisis, which integrates Psychology and Cognitive Science to address the meaning crisis in Western society. He is the author and presenter of the YouTube series, Awakening from the Meaning Crisis. TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) - Introduction (0:45) - Nature, Function & Meta Problem of Consciousness (2:55) - Key aspects of the Mind-Body Problem (7:04) - Consciousness as a higher order recursive relevance realization (11:47) - Ontonormativity & higher states of consciousness (15:54) - Moral philosophy of mind (19:36) - Psychedelics & altered states of consciousness (25:37) - Introspection in relation to insight & inference (28:48) - Phenomenology & 4E CogSci (& John's 2 more "E"s) (35:13) - The Salience & Significance Landscape (42:30) - Higher states of consciousness & its impact on individual's lived experiences (49:40) - John's upcoming book with Gregg Henriques (Untangling The World-Knot of Consciousness) (53:40) - Addressing Absurdity with Zen Neoplatonic Contemplation (Albert Camus & Thomas Nagel) (1:02:00) - John's relationship with Zen Neoplatonism (1:05:24) - Transcendental experiences & ontological grounding (1:09:38) - John's views on the "isms": Dualism, Idealism, Illusionism, Panpsychism, etc. (1:22:00) - The global collaborative approach to consciousness research occuring (1:27:45) - The future of consciousness research (1:31:03) - Moral and ethical implications of altering states of consciousness (1:35:09) - John's recommended reading (1:39:19) - John's personal story, transcended practices, & search for wisdom (1:46:30) - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis & key takeaways (1:54:21) - Final thoughts (2:00:09) - Conclusion EPISODE LINKS: - John's Website: https://johnvervaeke.com - John's Twitter: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john - John's Channel: https://youtube.com/@johnvervaeke - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ&feature=shared - After Socrates: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuj6q5NP_fXjBzUT1p_qYSCC&feature=shared - Voices with Vervaeke: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh8TPRarb1FpwP7FSaUILC9&feature=shared - Untangling the World-Knot: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTJe1xFfoxrAIyl5r1dB4La6zzMfUZVyd&feature=shared - Michael Levin: https://youtu.be/1R-tdscgxu4?feature=shared - Mark Solms: https://youtu.be/rkbeaxjAZm4?feature=shared - Stephen Grossberg: https://youtu.be/gpa0beB18vk?feature=shared CONNECT: - Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drtevinnaidu - Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtevinnaidu - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu ============================= Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

Michael Levin, a Distinguished Professor in Biology, discusses Synthbiosis and diverse intelligence beyond AI. Topics include creating high-level general intelligences, ethical implications, evolution of problem-solving agents, and the self as a dynamical construct. The podcast explores memory traces, recognized symmetry in body and mind building, and the value of scientific communities. It also touches on diverse intelligence definitions, existential dating, ethics, compassion in tech advancements, and ethical considerations in intelligence and consciousness.