It is a pleasure to invite you to attend the next University of Twente Philosophy Speakers Series lecture. It will be given by Peter Hershock from the East-West Center in Honolulu.  Peter’s expertise is in Buddhist philosophies and he is the coordinator of the Humane AI Initiative. His lecture is entitled, “Consciousness Evolving: The ‘Hard Problem’ is Ethical.”

Date and time: December 15, 2022, 15:45-17:30

Join Zoom Meeting: https://utwente-nl.zoom.us/j/82352011480?pwd=M3daZTM0N3pVSElQYk9YT0lwUWZJUT09

Meeting ID: 823 5201 1480

Passcode: 404903

Consciousness Evolving: The “Hard Problem” is Ethical

Abstract:

Solving the “hard problem” of relating the physical and the phenomenal or the realms of matter and of mind is commonly seen as a metaphysical labor—sorting out the relative ontological status of brains, bodies, and their environments on one side, and consciousness on the other. Often, the background assumption is that this will entail explaining the evolutionary advantage of consciousness. This talk will blend Buddhist and contemporary scientific insights to counter those inclinations.

Theorizing consciousness relationally, a case will be made for seeing that brains, bodies, and environments are not causes of human consciousness but rather aspects of its material infrastructure; that evolution is an improvisational record of consciousness mattering; and that the “really hard problem” of consciousness is fundamentally ethical. This will open a space for reflecting critically on the evolutionary character of synthetic intelligence, the engineering of artificial consciousness, and the risks of mass experimentation on human consciousness through the digital attention economy.

Bio:

Peter D. Hershock is Director of the Asian Studies Development Program and Coordinator of the Humane AI Initiative at the East-West Center in Honolulu. His philosophical work makes use of Buddhist conceptual resources to address contemporary issues of global concern. He has authored or edited more than a dozen books on Buddhism, Asian philosophy and contemporary issues, including Reinventing the Wheel: A Buddhist Response to the Information Age; Buddhism in the Public Sphere: Reorienting Global Interdependence; Valuing Diversity: Buddhist Reflection on Realizing a More Equitable Global Future; and Buddhism and Intelligent Technology: Toward a More Humane Future. His current project is Consciousness Mattering: A Buddhist Synthesis.