The Thinking Ape: The Enigma of Human Consciousness

Рет қаралды 112,693

11 жыл бұрын

What is the origin and nature of consciousness? If consciousness is common to humans and animals alike, what are the defining traits of human consciousness?
Nobel laureate psychologist Daniel Kahneman, philosopher David Chalmers, expert in primate cognition Laurie Santos, and physician-scientist Nicholas Schiff will discuss what it means to be "conscious" and examine the human capacities displayed in cognitive, aesthetic, and ethical behaviors, with a focus on the place and function of the mind within nature.
The New York Academy of Sciences
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
This event is part of The Emerging Science of Consciousness Series, which brings together leading experts from various fields to discuss how the latest research is challenging our understanding of the very nature and function of consciousness in our daily lives.
www.nourfoundation.com/conscio...

Пікірлер: 147

@Caxerw13 8 жыл бұрын

I like how colloquial David Chalmers is, calling these people by nicknames!

@EyesofNeurosis 8 жыл бұрын

"I use to think my brain was the most important part of my body, than I realized what was telling me that" Dr. Katz

@nickmaltzoff9958 8 жыл бұрын

Awareness and Consciousness are often used interchangeably when describing the self. However, in order to start to understand either one or the other, one has to start by understanding two distinct aspects of the “self”.

@tommaguire3675 9 жыл бұрын

CONSCIOUS is the most fascinating thing in the world

@CannabisKills 9 жыл бұрын

It seems that David is suggesting that consciousness arises from various cognitive processes rather than as Daniel suggests that, taking from David's point, that we are trying to pin down an area of the human brain that brings about consciousness (and possibly extend this finding to other animals).

@lcbreezyl 11 жыл бұрын

My question is if a human is raised without learning a language and never even exposed to one; what would be going on in their mind? Would that person have an inner-monologue? Maybe they would have more visual thoughts instead of words. What would they think about or how would they think? If multiple people grew up with language; Would they make their own words? Is this part of human nature?

@frxnlab 8 жыл бұрын

"But you could surely program the robot to do all of the above?"

@alexandrosfavros3338 10 жыл бұрын

I just watched human consciousness a few minutes ago and as I scrolled down the comments and read you reply I was so glad because I always thought that but you worded it much better because I was thinking the exact same thing about consciousness and couldn't exactly word it properly. Thanks Scott.

@jodma189 9 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for share this vídeo. I as usual i ended up with more questions than answers but i thinks thats The most valuable thing in this exercises.

@CannabisKills 9 жыл бұрын

I think Daniel is missing David's point that it is not the tangible components of the brain themselves that give arise to these more complex functions, but rather that human beings, for whatever reason, have access (through evolution/ God(s)) to more comprehensive ways of thinking and being (consciousness). David's point seems to be that the brain is simply a messenger but it is not the reason for consciousness per se.

@jowoo7237 11 жыл бұрын

You cannot define consciousness, it just is. We can each feel it, and we should remember that others feel the same as we do. It is self-reflection, and is mindfulness. It is awareness of being aware. It's a wave in an ocean of possibility,

@KripkeSaul 9 жыл бұрын

Poor David, he is the smartest and the most modest, yet the others sometimes sneer at him.

@skydude7682 7 жыл бұрын

i like the idea that the universe cannot exist without life. because all reality relies on the context of the state that it is in. without life there would be nothing to perceive the presence of reality, and without the universe there would be no consciousness because there would be nothing to be conscious of

@EyesofNeurosis 8 жыл бұрын

Yes, we absolutely need new definitions, new terms, new ideas, and new metaphors.

@SuperFata 11 жыл бұрын

Great talk on an essential theme! However, I find Laurie Santos' claim that non-human primates doesn't share their thoughts and knowledge rather strange. Chimps are known to make tools and to learn other members patiently about their methods. Also they are known to have great pleasure in watching impressive scenary in nature, like beautiful waterfalls, often resulting in ecstatic outbursts. And, although not in nature, apes who have learned sign language share both their thoughts and feelings.

@TheJohnBuffalo 9 жыл бұрын

Chalmers: "Panpsychism: that everything has a mind!" *everyone else on the panel attempts to hide smirks*

@azimuthheathdanielboyer8314 10 жыл бұрын

Simply Gold, thanks for posting

@nathanplant21 9 жыл бұрын

Great discussion! haha Danny Kahneman puts down Chalmers at every opportunity =P

@TravisCBarker 3 жыл бұрын

What we think about thinking isn't the same as thinking. Our words, language, and discrete experiences & disciplines confuse the issue. People not being able to define and measure consciousness consistently is not the same as saying it can not be measured consistently. Based on this discussion, consciousness has unlimited measures which mitigate proving it exists in non-human subjects. Yet with human subjects, we assume we are conscious, without consistent measurement shared across disciplines.