Thomas Metzinger

Thomas Metzinger, German philosopher and consciousness researcher, explores minimal phenomenal experience and pure awareness. He discusses studying stripped-down states, survey-driven phenomenology, meditation and lucid deep sleep reports. Conversations cover ethical, cultural, and scientific implications of researching consciousness and how these rare states inform our understanding of selfhood.

Philosopher Thomas Metzinger discusses the discovery that consciousness is a biological process. Topics include altered states, dreaming, out of body experiences, and virtual reality. The relationship between consciousness and biology, as well as the nature of the self as a process, are explored. The disconnection between the body and the brain in lucid dreams and out-of-body experiences is also discussed. The relationship between sense of self and body models, advancements in neurotechnology, and the future understanding of ourselves are considered.

Guest Thomas Metzinger, philosopher and author, discusses topics such as engineering conscious systems, the nature of conscious experience, psychedelic drugs, climate change, and AI ethics. They explore the ethical implications of creating conscious systems and the possibilities of altered states of consciousness. The podcast also delves into the challenges of addressing the climate crisis and the significance of minimal phenomenological experiences in understanding consciousness. Book recommendations and starting points for diving into these topics are also shared.

Thomas Metzinger, Philosoph und emeritierter Mainzer Professor, erklärt Gefahren hochentwickelter KI knapp und prägnant. Er diskutiert mögliche Selbsterhaltungsziele und Manipulationsrisiken. Weitere Themen sind psychologische Überzeugungskraft starker KI, Tests mit widerspenstigen Systemen und wie Regulierung sowie gesellschaftliche Entscheidungen diese Entwicklungen bremsen könnten.

In this conversation, Professor Thomas Metzinger, a pioneer in consciousness studies, challenges the notion of the 'self' as an illusion crafted by our brains for survival. He reveals how personal identity evolves, influenced by experience and culture, and questions the impact of technology on self-perception. Fascinatingly, he discusses the rubber hand experiment, illustrating how perception can be altered. Additionally, Metzinger delves into the ethical implications of consciousness, especially concerning AI and suffering, prompting listeners to reconsider what it means to truly 'be'.

Dr. Thomas Metzinger is a renowned philosopher and professor of theoretical philosophy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. He also serves as a member of the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence. Our eye-opening conversation with Dr. Metzinger explored a range of favorite topics all centered on the question: what does it mean to be a human in the post-modern landscape of for-profit healthscare, algorithmic decision-making, and endless war. We also discuss how the brightest future might result from the tiniest changes at the level of the individual, despite the self's inevitable recession into the increasingly totalitarian, yet inevitably unstable, global industrial-state machinery.   Support the scientific revolution with a monthly donation: https://bit.ly/3lcAasB    Or pick up Dr. Metzinger's book:  https://amzn.to/3H5HBO5 As always, let us know what you think in the comments!    #self #consciousness #selfcare                          Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience   AND our material science investigations of atomics,  @MaterialAtomics  https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomics Join our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S      PODCAST INFO:  Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Michael Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities.    - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog    - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss - Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD- Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y     SOCIAL:    - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySci MUSIC:   -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671

In this conversation, philosopher and cognitive scientist Thomas Metzinger explores the intricate relationship between consciousness, AI, and suffering. Known for his work on the self-model theory, he discusses how meditation intersects with deep philosophical inquiries. Metzinger warns about the epistemic crisis fueled by AI, emphasizing the importance of a precise theory of suffering in AI design. He advocates for blending philosophical rigor with contemplative practices, urging a balanced perspective on human cognition and responsibility in the age of technology.

Sam Harris speaks with Thomas Metzinger about the scientific and experiential understanding of consciousness. They also talk about the significance of WWII for the history of ideas, the role of intuition in science, the ethics of building conscious AI, the self as an hallucination, how we identify with our thoughts, attention as the root of the feeling of self, the place of Eastern philosophy in Western science, and the limitations of secular humanism. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

Thomas Metzinger, a contemporary philosopher renowned for his work on consciousness, explores fascinating concepts surrounding self-models and pure awareness. He dives into the interplay of consciousness with individual experiences, highlighting significant philosophical debates. The discussion reveals how our understanding of selfhood evolves through novel insights from cognitive science and the intricate relationship between subjective experiences and wider realities. Metzinger also touches on altered states of consciousness and their philosophical implications, making for an enlightening conversation.

Philosopher Thomas Metzinger delves into the essence of pure consciousness, drawing on 500+ experiential reports. He explores states of pure awareness, non-egoic experiences in meditation, and the intersection of consciousness, science, and AI ethics. The podcast discusses the clash between spirituality and intellectual inquiry, the challenges of exploring consciousness through personal experiences, and the balance between extreme spiritual beliefs and skepticism.