#84 The Nature of Consciousness - Gunnar Babcock

Gunnar O Babcock is a lecturer in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. His research is primarily in the philosophy of biology and it appears in journals such asPhilosophy of Science, Syntheseand theBiological Journal of the Linnean Society.He previously managed a non-profit domestication project in Alaska aimed at creating a sustainable form of northern agriculture.
Summary

Professor Gunnar Babcock discusses his unique perspective on consciousness, cognition, and the intersection of philosophy and biology. He explores the concept of agency in non-living systems, the implications of synthetic biology and AI, and the challenges of defining life and goal-directedness. The conversation also delves into the ethical considerations of scientific advancements and the importance of critical thinking in navigating the complexities of modern society.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Consciousness and Cognition
03:15 Teleology vs. Mechanistic Thinking
06:31 Microbial Agency and Biological Systems
07:23 Synthetic Biology and Artificial Agency
12:53 The Nature of Life and Goal-Directedness
19:01 Conceptual Revisions in Understanding Life
24:52 Influences and Inspirations in Modern Science
29:06 Exploring Ancient Philosophy and Its Relevance Today
31:44 Technological Advancements and Ethical Dilemmas
35:53 The Role of Values in Science
38:28 Funding Research: Balancing Practicality and Exploration
40:58 A Day in the Life of a Philosopher
44:01 The Intersection of Fitness and Consciousness
49:31 Instilling Critical Thinking in Students
51:42 Future Prospects: Excitement and Concerns
55:04 Navigating Free Speech and Censorship
59:06 Final Thoughts: The Importance of Inquiry
01:00:13 Podcast exit terence -

Gunnar Babcock
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HSI2IBgAAAAJ&hl=en
https://aeon.co/users/gunnar-o-babcock
https://aeon.co/essays/we-need-to-stop-thinking-about-sex-when-it-comes-to-reproduction
Music for every episode
Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic

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