[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.82,0:00:33.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am going to talk about consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.62,0:00:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why consciousness? Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.87,0:00:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is curiously a neglected subject Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.49,0:00:41.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both in our scientific\Nand our philosophical culture. Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.20,0:00:42.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is that curious? Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.42,0:00:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's most important aspect of our lives\Nfor a very simple logical reason, Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.58,0:00:51.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely, it is a necessary condition\Non anything being important in our lives Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.40,0:00:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we are conscious. Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.70,0:00:55.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[If] you care about science,\Nphilosophy, music, art, whatever, Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.86,0:00:58.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is no good if you are\Na zombie or in a coma, right? Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.98,0:01:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So consciousness is number one. Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.45,0:01:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the first reason\N[that] we are talking about it. Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.37,0:01:08.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second reason is that when people\Ndo get interested in it, Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.64,0:01:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I think they should, Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.04,0:01:12.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they tend to say\Nthe most appalling things! Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.47,0:01:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am not going to attempt\Nto conceal from you Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.08,0:01:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of the most appalling things\Nthat have been said about it; Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.14,0:01:20.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even when they are not saying\Nappalling things Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.74,0:01:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[and] they are really trying\Nto do serious research, Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.38,0:01:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, it's been slow,\Nprogress has been slow. Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.68,0:01:30.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me tell you a little bit\Nabout some of the difficulties. Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.51,0:01:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I first got interested\Nin this, I thought Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.94,0:01:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a straightforward problem in biology Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.48,0:01:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[so] let's get these brain stabbers\Nto get busy Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.75,0:01:39.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and figure out how it works in the brain. Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.96,0:01:43.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went over to UCSF and talked\Nto all heavy-duty neurologists there Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.45,0:01:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they showed some impatience, Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.20,0:01:49.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as scientists often do when you ask them\Nembarrassing questions, Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.34,0:01:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the thing that struck me Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.100,0:01:54.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that a very famous neurobiologist\Nsaid exasperated: Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.45,0:01:57.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Look, in my discipline,\Nit's OK to be interested in consciousness, Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.93,0:02:00.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but get tenure first! Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.08,0:02:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.58,0:02:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been working on this for a long time Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.25,0:02:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now you might actually get tenure Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.64,0:02:09.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by working on consciousness,\Nand if so, that's a real step forward! Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.82,0:02:13.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why then, is this curious reluctance Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.20,0:02:15.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and curious hostility to consciousness? Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.59,0:02:18.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's a combination of two features\Nof our intellectual culture Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.98,0:02:22.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that like to think\Nthey are opposing each other Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.12,0:02:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in fact they share\Na common set of assumptions. Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.89,0:02:28.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consciousness is not a part\Nof the physical world Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.84,0:02:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's part of the spiritual world,\Nit belongs to the soul, Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.72,0:02:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the soul is not a part\Nof the physical world. Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.69,0:02:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the tradition of God,\Nthe soul, and immortality. Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.70,0:02:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is another tradition\Nthat is opposed to this Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.51,0:02:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but excepts the worst assumption. Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.48,0:02:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That tradition thinks\Nwe are heavy-duty scientific materialists, Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.28,0:02:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness is not a part\Nof the physical world, Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.36,0:02:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either it doesn't exist at all\Nor it is something else, Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.28,0:02:55.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a computer program\Nor some damn fool thing. Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.66,0:02:56.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.69,0:02:58.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in any case, it's not part of science! Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.81,0:03:01.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used to get in an argument\Nthat really gave me a stomachache. Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.85,0:03:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is how it went: Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.97,0:03:06.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Science is objective,\Nconsciousness is subjective, Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.79,0:03:10.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,therefore, there cannot be\Na science of consciousness." Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.09,0:03:11.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I love that argument Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.29,0:03:14.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it has got\Na wonderful fallacy of ambiguity Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.10,0:03:15.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the concept of objectivity. Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.92,0:03:18.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I have already used up too much time Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.22,0:03:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just to clearing my breath,\Nsort of speak, Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.52,0:03:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I want to get to that. Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.02,0:03:27.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These twin traditions are paralyzing us, Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.95,0:03:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's very hard to get out\Nof these twin traditions, Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.98,0:03:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I have only one real message\Nin this lecture, Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.82,0:03:35.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.32,0:03:38.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a biological phenomenon,\Nlike photosynthesis, Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.40,0:03:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,digestion, mitosis,\Nand all that biological phenomena. Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.60,0:03:44.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And once you accept that, Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.29,0:03:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most, though not all, Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.24,0:03:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the hard problems about consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.18,0:03:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply evaporate! Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.58,0:03:51.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I will go through some of them. Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.61,0:03:53.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I promised you to tell you Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.68,0:03:56.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of the outrageous things\Nsaid about consciousness, Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.43,0:04:00.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and because of shortage of time,\NI will only mention four of the worst. Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.81,0:04:04.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One: "Consciousness does not exist. Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.99,0:04:06.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is an illusion, like sunsets." Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.98,0:04:11.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science has shown sunsets\Nand rainbows are illusions, Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.61,0:04:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so consciousness is an illusion. Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.58,0:04:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two: "Maybe it exists,\Nbut it is really something else, Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.08,0:04:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a computer program\Nrunning in the brain." Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.96,0:04:25.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three: "No, the only thing\Nthat exists is really behavior!" Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.34,0:04:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's embarrassing\Nhow influential behaviorism was, Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.59,0:04:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I will get back to that. Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.38,0:04:32.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Four: "Maybe consciousness exists, Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.40,0:04:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it can't make\Nany difference to the world. Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.76,0:04:37.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could spirituality move anything?" Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.16,0:04:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And whenever somebody\Ntells me that, I think: Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.41,0:04:42.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You want to see if spirituality\Nmoves something? Watch!" Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.34,0:04:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decide consciously to raise my arm\Nand the damn thing goes up. Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.72,0:04:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.45,0:04:50.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.04,0:04:54.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Furthermore, we do not say:\N"It's a bit like the weather in Geneva, Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.95,0:04:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some days it goes up\Nand some days it doesn't go up." Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.68,0:04:58.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No! It goes up Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.56,0:05:00.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I right damn well want it to! Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.53,0:05:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will tell you how that is possible. Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.52,0:05:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I haven't yet given you a definition, Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.16,0:05:08.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't do this\Nif you don't give a definition. Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.64,0:05:11.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People always say: "Consciousness\Nis very hard to define." Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.57,0:05:13.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it is rather easy to define Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.33,0:05:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you are not trying to give\Na scientific definition. Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.94,0:05:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are not ready\Nfor a scientific definition, Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.14,0:05:20.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but here is the common sense definition: Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.10,0:05:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness consists of all those states\Nof feelings, or sensations, or awareness; Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.52,0:05:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it begins in the morning\Nwhen you wake up from a dream, Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.47,0:05:31.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it goes on all day,\Nuntil you fall asleep, or die, Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.51,0:05:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or otherwise become unconscious. Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.100,0:05:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dreams are a form\Nof consciousness on this definition. Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.14,0:05:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the common sense definition,\Nthat's our target; Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.86,0:05:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you are not talking about that,\Nyou are not talking about consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.60,0:05:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they think:"Well, that's it! Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.38,0:05:46.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's an awful problem! Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.91,0:05:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can such thing exist\Nas part of the real world?" Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.62,0:05:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this, if you have ever had\Na philosophy course, Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.36,0:05:55.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is known\Nas the famous "mind-body problem." Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.95,0:05:59.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that has a simple solution to it\Nand I am going to give it to you. Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.55,0:06:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here it is: Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.35,0:06:04.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of our conscious states,\Nwithout exception, are caused Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.35,0:06:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by lower-level neurobiological processes\Nin the brain. Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.35,0:06:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they are realized in the brain\Nas higher-level or system features. Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.09,0:06:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is about as mysterious\Nas the liquidity of water, right? Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.43,0:06:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The liquidity is not an extra juice Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.24,0:06:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,squirted out by the H2O molecules, Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.93,0:06:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a condition that the system is in. Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.14,0:06:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And just as the jar full of water\Ncan go from liquid to solid, Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.87,0:06:32.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on the behavior\Nof the molecules, Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.06,0:06:34.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so your brain can go\Nfrom a state of being conscious Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.83,0:06:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a state of being unconscious, Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.68,0:06:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on the behavior\Nof the molecules. Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.72,0:06:43.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The famous "mind-body problem"\Nis that simple. Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.97,0:06:47.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now, we get\Ninto some harder questions. Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.76,0:06:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's specify\Nthe exact features of consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.76,0:06:56.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we can then answer\Nthose four objections that I made to it. Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.23,0:07:00.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the first feature is\Nit is real and irreducible. Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.23,0:07:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't get rid of it. Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.23,0:07:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, the distinction\Nbetween reality and illusion Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.70,0:07:11.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the distinction between how things\Nconsciously seem to us Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.40,0:07:13.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how they really are. Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.24,0:07:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If consciousness seems like... Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.98,0:07:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like the French "arch",\Nit seems like there's an arch in the sky, Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.82,0:07:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it seems like the sun\Nis setting over the mountains, Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.27,0:07:24.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it consciously seems to us Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.04,0:07:25.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that's not really happening. Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.80,0:07:27.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for that distinction, Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.21,0:07:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between how things consciously seem\Nand how they really are, Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.27,0:07:34.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't make that distinction\Nfor the very existence of consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.54,0:07:38.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because we are\Nthe very existence of consciousness: Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.12,0:07:41.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it consciously seems to you,\Nthat you are conscious, Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.25,0:07:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you are conscious! Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.58,0:07:43.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.76,0:07:46.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean if a bunch of experts\Ncome to me and say: Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.18,0:07:49.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We are heavy-duty neurobiologists\Nand we've done a study on you Searle," Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.76,0:07:51.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we are convinced\Nyou are not conscious. Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.91,0:07:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're a very cleverly constructed robot." Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.70,0:07:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think: " Well, maybe\Nthese guys are right!" Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.30,0:07:59.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think that for a moment! Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.12,0:08:02.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, I mean, Descartes\Nmay have made a lot of mistakes Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.01,0:08:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he is right about this: Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.36,0:08:06.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you cannot doubt the existence\Nof your own consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.22,0:08:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the first feature of consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.35,0:08:09.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is real and irreducible. Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.80,0:08:13.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You cannot get rid of it\Nby showing that it's an illusion, Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.25,0:08:16.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a way that you can\Nwith other standard illusions. Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.33,0:08:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second feature is this one Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.60,0:08:21.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that has been such a source\Nof trouble to us. Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.14,0:08:23.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that is all of our conscious states Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.37,0:08:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have this qualitative character to them; Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.30,0:08:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is something\Nthat it feels like to drink beer, Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.88,0:08:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is not what feels like\Nto do your income tax, Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.68,0:08:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or listen to music. Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.86,0:08:37.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this qualitative field\Nautomatically generates a third feature, Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.11,0:08:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely, conscious states\Nare by definition subjective, Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.89,0:08:42.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the sense that they only exist Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.98,0:08:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as experienced\Nby some human or animal subjects, Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.68,0:08:47.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some self that experiences them. Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.81,0:08:50.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe we will be able\Nto build a conscious machine, Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.33,0:08:52.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[but] since we don't know\Nhow our brains do it, Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.79,0:08:56.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are not in the position, so far,\Nto build a conscious machine. Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.62,0:08:59.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, another feature of consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.42,0:09:03.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it comes\Nin unified conscious fields. Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.42,0:09:06.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't just have the sight\Nof people in front of me, Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.06,0:09:07.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the sound of my voice, Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.38,0:09:09.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the weight of my shoes\Nagainst the floor, Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.67,0:09:14.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they occur to me as part\Nof one single great conscious field Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.29,0:09:16.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that stretches forward and backward. Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.45,0:09:20.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is the key to understanding\Nthe enormous power of consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.45,0:09:23.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we have not been able\Nto do that in a robot. Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.74,0:09:26.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The disappointment of robotics\Nderives from the fact Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.42,0:09:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we don't know\Nhow to make a conscious robot, Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.86,0:09:31.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we don't have a machine\Nthat can do this kind of thing. Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.73,0:09:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next feature of consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.49,0:09:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after this marvelous,\Nunified conscious field Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.25,0:09:40.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it functions causally\Nin our behavior. Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.16,0:09:43.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I gave you a scientific demonstration\Nby raising my hand, Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.36,0:09:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but how is that possible? Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.23,0:09:48.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can it be\Nthat this thought in my brain Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.71,0:09:50.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can move material objects? Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.86,0:09:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I will tell you the answer. Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.84,0:09:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--we don't know the detailed answer, Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.64,0:09:56.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we know the basic part of the answer-- Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.66,0:09:59.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is there are sequences\Nof neuron firings Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.42,0:10:03.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they terminate\Nwhere the acetylcholine is secreted Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.31,0:10:05.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the axon end-plates\Nof the motor neurons, Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.50,0:10:07.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sorry to use\Nphilosophical terminology here. Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.67,0:10:09.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.14,0:10:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when it is secreted Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.31,0:10:12.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the axon end-plates\Nof the motor neurons, Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.41,0:10:15.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of wonderful things\Nhappen in the ion channels Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.06,0:10:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the damned arm goes up. Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.68,0:10:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And think of what I have told you. Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.54,0:10:20.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One and the same event, Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.05,0:10:23.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my conscious decision to raise my hand Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.23,0:10:24.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a level of description Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.85,0:10:28.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it has all of these touchy-feely,\Nspiritual qualities, Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.09,0:10:29.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--it's a thought in my brain-- Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.83,0:10:30.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but at the same time, Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.93,0:10:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's busy secreting acetylcholine Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.86,0:10:34.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doing all sorts of other things Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.67,0:10:37.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it makes its way from the motor cortex Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.02,0:10:40.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down through the nerves fibers\Nand the arm. Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.38,0:10:44.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what that tells us\Nis that our traditional vocabularies Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.38,0:10:47.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for discussing these issues,\Nare totally obsolete! Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.51,0:10:49.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One and the same event, Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.19,0:10:52.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a level of description\Nwhere's neurobiological, Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.37,0:10:54.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and another level of description\Nwhere's mental, Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.73,0:10:56.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's a single event Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.05,0:10:57.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's how nature works, Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.48,0:11:01.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's how is possible\Nfor consciousness to function causally. Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.55,0:11:03.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, with that in mind, Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.96,0:11:07.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with going through these various features\Nof consciousness, Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.26,0:11:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let's go back and answer\Nsome of those early objections. Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.26,0:11:13.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the first one I said,\Nwas consciousness doesn't exist, Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.89,0:11:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's an illusion. Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.85,0:11:16.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I've already answered that Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.43,0:11:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think we need to worry about that. Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.62,0:11:21.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the second one,\Nhad an incredible influence Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.16,0:11:22.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and may still be around,\Nand that is Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.92,0:11:26.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if consciousness exists,\Nit's really something else; Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.02,0:11:28.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's really a digital computer program Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.68,0:11:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,running in your brain, Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.22,0:11:32.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's what we need to do\Nto create consciousness, Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.97,0:11:34.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get the right program. Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.40,0:11:36.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Forget about the hardware,\Nany hardware will do, Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.78,0:11:40.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provided is rich enough and stable enough\Nto carry the program. Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.28,0:11:41.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we know that that's wrong. Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.94,0:11:44.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, anybody who's thought\Nabout computers at all Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.99,0:11:46.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can see that that's wrong. Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.79,0:11:49.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because computation is defined\Nas symbol manipulation, Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.93,0:11:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,usually thought as 0s and 1s,\Nbut any symbols will do. Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.99,0:11:54.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You get an algorithm Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.31,0:11:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can program in a binary code Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.52,0:12:04.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's the defining trait\Nof the computer program. Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.21,0:12:08.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we know that's purely syntactical,\Nthat's symbolic, Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.21,0:12:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we know that actual human consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.43,0:12:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has something more than that,\Nit's got a content, Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.43,0:12:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in addition to the syntax,\Nit's got a semantics. Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.86,0:12:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made that argument, Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.51,0:12:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--oh, my god!\NI don't want to think about it!-- Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.87,0:12:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more that 30 years ago, Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.26,0:12:25.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there is a deeper argument\Nimplicit in what I've told you. Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.20,0:12:28.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I want to tell you that argument\Nbriefly, and that is: Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.63,0:12:32.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness creates an observer\Nindependent reality. Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.63,0:12:36.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It creates a reality of money,\Nproperty, government, Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.29,0:12:39.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marriage, CERN, conferences, Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.47,0:12:43.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cocktail parties, and summer vacations. Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.54,0:12:45.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all of those\Nare creations of consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.85,0:12:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their existence is observer-relative. Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.31,0:12:50.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's only relative to conscious agents; Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.73,0:12:52.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a piece of paper is a money, Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.68,0:12:55.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a bunch of buildings is a university. Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.23,0:12:58.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, ask yourselves about computation. Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.13,0:12:59.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is that absolute? Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.57,0:13:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like force, and mass,\Nand gravitational attraction? Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.10,0:13:03.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or is it observer-relative? Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.96,0:13:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, some computations are intrinsic. Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.96,0:13:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I add two plus two to get four, Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.75,0:13:12.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's going on no matter\Nwhat anybody thinks. Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.55,0:13:16.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when I hold out my pocket calculator\Nand do the calculation, Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.55,0:13:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the only intrinsic phenomenon Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.56,0:13:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the electronic circuit\Nand its behavior. Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.68,0:13:23.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the only absolute phenomenon. Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.81,0:13:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the rest is interpreted by us. Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.76,0:13:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Computation only exists\Nrelative to consciousness. Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.76,0:13:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either a conscious agent\Nis carrying the computation Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.64,0:13:34.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it has a piece of machinery Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.16,0:13:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that admits\Nof a computational interpretation. Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.04,0:13:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That doesn't mean\Ncomputation is arbitrary, Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.24,0:13:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent a lot of money\Non this hardware, Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.52,0:13:43.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we have this persistent confusion Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.69,0:13:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between objectivity and subjectivity Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.23,0:13:48.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as features of reality, Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.01,0:13:50.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and objectivity and subjectivity Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.28,0:13:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as features of claims. Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.56,0:13:55.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the bottom line\Nof this part of my talk, is this: Dialogue: 0,0:13:55.66,0:13:59.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can have\Na completely objective science, Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.66,0:14:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a science where you make\Nobjectively true claims Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.59,0:14:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about a domain whose existence\Nis subjective, Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.40,0:14:08.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose existence is in the human brain, Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.86,0:14:12.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consisting of subjective states\Nor sensations, or feeling, or awareness. Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.86,0:14:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the objection, that you can't have\Nan objective science of consciousness Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.86,0:14:20.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's subjective,\Nand science is objective, Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.86,0:14:24.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's a pun, that's a bad pun\Non objectivity and subjectivity. Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.32,0:14:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can make objective claims\Nabout a domain that is subjective Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.38,0:14:30.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in its mode of existence, Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.84,0:14:34.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and indeed, that's what neurologists do. Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.47,0:14:37.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have patients\Nthat actually suffered pains Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.02,0:14:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you are trying to get\Nan objective science of that. Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.72,0:14:41.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I promised to refute all these guys, Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.72,0:14:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I don't have\Nan awful lot of time left, Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.96,0:14:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let me refute a couple more of them. Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.31,0:14:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said that behaviorism ought to be\None of the great embarrassments Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.60,0:14:52.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our intellectual culture, Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.13,0:14:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's refuted the moment\Nyou think about it. Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.61,0:14:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your mental states are identical\Nwith your behavior? Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.02,0:15:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, think about the distinction\Nbetween feeling a pain, Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.92,0:15:02.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and engaging in pain behavior. Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.82,0:15:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, I won't demonstrate pain behavior Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.78,0:15:07.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I can tell you\NI am not having any pains right now! Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.44,0:15:08.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's an obvious mistake. Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.93,0:15:10.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why did they make the mistake? Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.42,0:15:12.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The mistake was, and you go back Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.12,0:15:15.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ready the literature on this,\Nyou can see this over and over, Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.38,0:15:17.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they think [that] if you accept Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.96,0:15:21.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the irreducible existence\Nof consciousness, Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.39,0:15:23.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're giving up on science, Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.01,0:15:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're giving up on 300 years Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.94,0:15:27.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of human progress and human hope\Nand all the rest of it. Dialogue: 0,0:15:27.89,0:15:30.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the message\NI want to leave you with is Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.90,0:15:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness has to become accepted\Nas a genuine biological phenomenon, Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.40,0:15:38.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as much subject to scientific analysis Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.59,0:15:41.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as any other phenomena in biology,\Nor, for that matter, Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.36,0:15:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the rest of science! Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.69,0:15:43.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much. Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.87,0:15:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)