Full Debate | The Secrets of Consciousness | Philip Goff, Susan Blackmore, Nicholas Humphrey

Is it a mistake to think we can explain consciousness by examining the brain?

Consciousness is a deep puzzle. There was hope that neuroscience might find some answers. But we still have no explanation for where brain activity ends and experience begins. Is it a mistake to think we can explain consciousness by examining the brain? Should we look elsewhere, to our evolutionary roots perhaps? Or might neuroscience pull the cat from the bag after all?

Barry C Smith, the phenomenal phenomenologist, hosts a hot panel:

Susan Blackmore, psychologist, professor and author, whose research looks into out of body experiences.

Philip Goff, Professor in Philosophy at the Central European University in Budapest, and keen advocate for panpsychism.

Nicholas Humphrey, a psychologist with a pioneering body of work into the evolution of intelligence and consciousness.

#consciousness #neuroscience #brainactivity

Visit IAI.tv for our full library of debates, talks, articles and podcasts from international thought leaders and world-class academics. The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics.

[TheInstituteOfArtAndIdeas]

What do you think of this debate? Leave a comment below

[anthonyowen]

The panelists seem unaware of the arguments derived from quantum physics, that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe. I would suggest that they read some books (or watch the YouTube lectures) of Roger Penrose - undoubtedly the foremost mathematician of his generation.

The cutting edge of research into consciousness these days comes from physicists, not neuroscientists.

[bradmodd]

I found that Closed Captions were useful during Phillip Goff's talk

[lioneye]

Trying to work out how the brain produces consciousness is like trying to work out how waves produce water.

At the end of their stubborn persuit they conclude that water doesn't exist!

Please give all these guys a strong hit of 5meo DMT.

[GoldieTamamo]

Anthropocentrism really does seem to rather loom over the topic of 'distinguishing degrees of consciousness'...

[JamesCairney]

Panpsycism seems like a really lazy solution to me, "where is conciousness? Dunno, can't find it, it must be everywhere!"
Hmm. Next he'll be claiming God made the universe, same basic grasping for straws and lack of logic.

[alfredgpogo]

It is claimed that when we sleep we are not conscious, but based on the definition offered here, that consciousness means there’s something that it’s like to be this thing, I would say that when you’re asleep you’re conscious. At the very least, there’s something it’s like to be dreaming. And who knows, maybe there’s something it’s like to be in a deep sleep, But we just don’t remember it when we wake up. Maybe other parts of our brain have their own subjective experience that our waking selves are not aware of. I think the notion that consciousness is an illusion is incoherent If consciousness is defined as a subjective experience. I think what she means is free will is an illusion, or that the sense of a separate self is an Illusion. That may be. It seems that in discussions like this, The participants talk past each other because they haven’t clearly defined the terms. They’re talking about different things. The materialists tend to be arrogant, claiming that correlation is explanation. I’m not saying I have any better ideas, but a little bit of humility in face of one of Life’s greatest questions Might be a good idea.

[roybecker]

I loved this debate. The Institute of Art and Ideas is AMAZING.

[kenanderson]

No one in the world can prove how consciousness exists. Yet many scientist deride others with theories and ideas and assert their own position as the rational one.

[oneoflokis]

"Nothing is harder than consciousness to integrate into our scientific world view" - yet another philosopher admits this! :)

[dhammaboy]

Why is this full debate only ten minutes long?

[rubmode]

¿Can we explain consciousness by exmining the brain? Response: Obviously no.

[realcygnus]

imo straight up Idealism connects the most dots by FAR & it wasn't even mentioned.

[ADBCSH-jeuj]

If consciousness is an illusion, then what is the illusion appearing to? Isn't it self evident that we are participating in a substrate of general awareness upon which things are reflected (be it a primary or emergent field)? It seems that these discussions get lost as general terms are misconstrued... especially with these more complex subjects. Then there's the paralysis of over analysis... a barrage of verbage without a relevant point being made.

[martin]

Matter responds, nerves respond more sensitively, brains reciprocally respond to their responses

[MonisticIdealism]

Goff's arguments were far better than the other panelists. Panpsychism is more theoretically virtuous than the alternatives presented, but given the combination problem something like idealism appears to be more virtuous.

[wmgthilgen]

It's reported that upon one's death, one supposedly has a flash back if their entire lives before getting the judgement by a GOD that determins if you go to a heaven or a hell. Consenious is that flash back. Though it's only a couple of nano seconds, it seems to be what we refer to as life long.

[surrendertoflow]

I don’t understand how this is the full debate as stated in the title? I keep seeing these videos from iai saying “full debate” and then it’s clearly not. Then there’s a link where you have to pay to see it. How can “full debate” be in the title and on the video pic if that’s not true?

[martin]

46:31 "We know a lot about this bit of brains doing this this bit doing that", this is the comparative fallacy we will always generally know more now than we use to, but we will always know less now than in the future (barring the end of the World)

[taooftheinfinitemind]

Totally biased video muting Mr. Goff then letting Susan Blackmore 'the witch' full floor :(