Conversations on Consciousness: What is consciousness?

What does it mean to say ‘I am’? Is the sense of subjectivity a delusion? Are only humans conscious? What about whales, AI, and electrons? How should we use our consciousness?

All these questions, and many others, will be examined by expert speakers in conversation with one another and with the audience in the ‘Conversations on Consciousness’ seminar series. Perspectives from a wide spectrum of academic disciplines will be explored for a general audience.

All University members, Alumni, and their guests are welcome to attend. No registration is necessary.

29 January: What is consciousness?

• Susan Blackmore (Psychology, University of Plymouth), Why are we deluded about consciousness?
• Paul Pettitt (Archaeology, Durham University), What was consciousness in the Ice Age? Neanderthals, Cro-Magnons and the emergence of art
• Ole Jensen (Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford), An adversarial collaboration to evaluate theories of consciousness

Also in the Conversations on Consciousness seminar series

• 12 February: Who or what has consciousness?
• 26 February: What should we do with our consciousness?

Organised and moderated by Professor Charles Foster (charles.foster@exeter.ox.ac.uk) and Professor Kerry Walker (kerry.walker@exeter.ox.ac.uk). Kindly sponsored by Exeter College, Oxford.