Anna Ciaunica

Michael Levin, a distinguished professor at Tufts University known for his groundbreaking work in developmental biology, and Anna Ciaunica, a cognitive scientist and philosopher from the University of Lisbon, dive deep into the concept of consciousness. They challenge traditional views by proposing that intelligence extends beyond the brain, to single cells and bacterial colonies. The conversation also navigates the interconnectedness of memory and identity, the significance of goals in our self-concept, and how relationships shape our understanding of selfhood.

Michael Levin, a pioneering biologist known for his work on xenobots, discusses cells exhibiting surprising regenerative capacities and their unexpected behaviors. Philosopher Anna Ciaunica argues that cognition predates neurons, presenting intelligence as an adaptive survival mechanism across scales. Physician-scientist William Miller suggests that individual cells are conscious and resolve ambiguity, reshaping our understanding of autonomy. Science writer Philip Ball delves into the ethical implications of growing brain organoids from personal cells, prompting critical reflections on consciousness.

Anna Ciaunica, philosopher researching embodiment, neuroimmune coupling and origins of cognition. She questions brain-centrism and explores body-wide cognition. Conversation covers immune systems as biological fact-checkers, pregnancy as nested subjectivity, basal cognition before neurons, depersonalization revealing fragile selfhood, biological idealism, multiscale intelligence, and how AI differs ontologically from living minds.