Adina Roskies - Why Explore Cosmos and Consciousness?

Cosmos and consciousness seem utterly different, cosmos encompassing the vast universe, consciousness emerging from tiny brains. Yet consciousness is the basis of religion, and some cosmologists speak quietly, profoundly, about consciousness. A few scientists and philosophers claim that, even without God, consciousness can be something of a cosmic imperative.

Adina Roskies is a Professor of Philosophy at Dartmouth College.

Closer To Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[TheUltimateSeeds]

Adina Roskies stated: *"...But I do think that it [consciousness] is an accident of evolution..."*
My...my....my, it never ceases to amaze me how anyone could believe that the single most important aspect of reality (life and consciousness) is nothing more than an "accident." I mean, what possible reason could there be for the existence of suns and planets (or anything whatsoever) if life and consciousness did not exist to interact with it all?

[quantumkath]

I got my merch❣️ I support The Kuhn Foundation. And, it's my birthday 🥳

[bernardliu]

She is completely incomprehensible ! Are we any wiser now ?

[stephenkagan]

Since the laws of physics and chemistry are consistent throughout the cosmos then it is reasonable to assume that life has emerged on other planets. Now if life emerges on other planets and they display some form of consciousness, how would that change the discussion of whether consciousness is accidental?

[nusolog]

I have only one problem with the Closer To Truth series... please buy better microphones

[blijebij]

Cause both are directly linked to the foundation of existense, what we label as reality.

[browngreen]

Imo one of the more interesting discussions. Whether consciousness is significant to the universe itself, or we just make a big deal out of it because without consciousness we are ZERO, NICHTS, NADA, KAPUT. 😂

[AdrianSlo]

If consciousness comes from matter, the question is: what is matter?

[johnyharris]

Whenever a system integrates enough information about its environment in such a way that a model of that environment is formed, this is what we call consciousness.

[francesco]

amaze me how she takes the most important thing in reality as an "accident". A reality without anything that "feel" it basically does not exist.

[graemeverryt]

why do I automatically look up and away directly from my bar seat across the crowded area into the eyes of a stranger apparently staring at me with an ill look, and I felt a negativity and need to defend myself - too numerous times to remember ? this is not a substance thing, im sober

[mikefinn]

Systems evolved in the universe i.e. biologic, weather. Feedback loops arise in systems. Retrocausality could be a feedback loop in the universe and constantly at work as spacetime emerges from collapsing wave functions. Parallel universes may arise but be short lived as probability paths emerge along lines of organization. This explains the anthropic outcome. We are the highest order of organization achieved so far.

[browngreen]

I think consciousness really got going on Earth with the biological creature prey/predator relationship. If the Universe had remained super hostile, biology couldn't have formed. But on Earth conditions became favorable, proving that it can happen and likely has happened elsewhere. This interesting discussion leaves me wondering if consciousness can arise naturally outside of biology. Could there be a weird naturally occurring energy field in a special mineral combination that suddenly starts thinking without 3.5 billion years of biological evolution? 😮

[stevefaure]

I appreciate what she's saying in that she is eloquently and with a lot of education and study to back it up admitting complete confusion about what, how, and even if consciousness is real. On the other hand, some guy working at the Jiffy Lube could say the same thing with no less certainty.

[titandmc]

Why can't she say we really don't know what it is

[Mentaculus]

They are so cute together, they both dressed in ALL BLACK! What is that about? Was that consciousness at work? Would Sigmund Freud have something to say about it?

[cmarkme]

Society says she's an Intelligent person, she has all these qualifications. But saying that consciousness is an accident, is absolutely Stupid. No observer, No Universe. Consciousness is the thing that makes all this realistic. Without a Conscious Observer, you have no Matter, as the Double Slit experiment proves. Just waves of probabilistic energy!

[browngreen]

Makes me wonder: Can consciousness arise in Nature outside of a biological creature? 😮

[maayanot]

ROBERT...I was trying badly to contact you and pass on some extremely crucial data...how can you be reached ? You'll be surprised...

[guillermodozal]

I see that there’re two powerful things in life: gravity, and life itself with our power of reasoned logic. As top predators in the savanna, that’s what they had, and had at least one meal a day. Today we have three meals (most of us), and have electricity, and more, in the house. Reason works well with lots of scrutiny, lots of it.