[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.46,0:00:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to talk about consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.08,0:00:04.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why consciousness?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.56,0:00:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it's a curiously neglected subject,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.39,0:00:10.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both in our scientific\Nand our philosophical culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.95,0:00:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now why is that curious?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.22,0:00:15.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it is the most important\Naspect of our lives
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.73,0:00:17.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a very simple, logical reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.69,0:00:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely, it's a necessary\Ncondition on anything
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.09,0:00:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being important in our lives\Nthat we're conscious.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.56,0:00:25.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You care about science, philosophy,\Nmusic, art, whatever --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.72,0:00:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's no good if you're\Na zombie or in a coma, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.20,0:00:31.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So consciousness is number one.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.55,0:00:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second reason is that when people do
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.01,0:00:36.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get interested in it,\Nas I think they should,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.33,0:00:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they tend to say\Nthe most appalling things.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.18,0:00:41.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, even when they're\Nnot saying appalling things
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.82,0:00:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're really trying\Nto do serious research,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.18,0:00:47.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, it's been slow.\NProgress has been slow.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.32,0:00:50.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I first got interested\Nin this, I thought, well,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.46,0:00:52.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a straightforward problem in biology.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.67,0:00:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's get these brain stabbers\Nto get busy and figure out
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.17,0:00:56.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how it works in the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.05,0:00:58.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I went over to UCSF and I talked to all
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.08,0:00:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the heavy-duty neurobiologists there,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.87,0:01:01.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they showed some impatience,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.44,0:01:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as scientists often do when you\Nask them embarrassing questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.83,0:01:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the thing that struck me is,\None guy said in exasperation,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.58,0:01:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very famous neurobiologist,\Nhe said, "Look,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.75,0:01:14.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my discipline it's okay to be\Ninterested in consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.18,0:01:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but get tenure first. Get tenure first."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.74,0:01:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I've been working\Non this for a long time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.46,0:01:22.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think now you might actually get tenure
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.44,0:01:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by working on consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.80,0:01:26.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If so, that's a real step forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.34,0:01:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, now why then is this\Ncurious reluctance
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.25,0:01:31.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and curious hostility to consciousness?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.14,0:01:33.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I think it's a combination\Nof two features
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.88,0:01:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our intellectual culture
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.78,0:01:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that like to think they're\Nopposing each other
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.31,0:01:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in fact they share\Na common set of assumptions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.93,0:01:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One feature is the tradition\Nof religious dualism:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.89,0:01:49.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consciousness is not a part\Nof the physical world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.22,0:01:51.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a part of the spiritual world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.14,0:01:52.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It belongs to the soul,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.68,0:01:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the soul is not a part\Nof the physical world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.98,0:01:58.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the tradition of God,\Nthe soul and immortality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.01,0:02:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's another tradition\Nthat thinks it's opposed to this
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.11,0:02:03.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but accepts the worst assumption.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.22,0:02:07.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That tradition thinks that we are heavy-duty\Nscientific materialists:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.29,0:02:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consciousness is not a part\Nof the physical world.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.76,0:02:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either it doesn't exist at all,\Nor it's something else,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.40,0:02:16.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a computer program\Nor some damn fool thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.05,0:02:19.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in any case it's not part of science.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.25,0:02:21.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I used to get in an argument\Nthat really gave me a stomachache.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.46,0:02:23.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's how it went.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.08,0:02:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science is objective,\Nconsciousness is subjective,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.11,0:02:30.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,therefore there cannot be\Na science of consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.44,0:02:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so these twin\Ntraditions are paralyzing us.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.94,0:02:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very hard to get\Nout of these twin traditions.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.81,0:02:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I have only one real\Nmessage in this lecture,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.82,0:02:46.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is, consciousness\Nis a biological phenomenon
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.21,0:02:49.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like photosynthesis, digestion, mitosis --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.10,0:02:53.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know all the biological phenomena\N-- and once you accept that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.43,0:02:56.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most, though not all, of the hard problems
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.07,0:02:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about consciousness simply evaporate.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.35,0:03:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm going to go through some of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.40,0:03:02.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, now I promised you to tell you some
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.73,0:03:05.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the outrageous things\Nsaid about consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.47,0:03:09.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One: Consciousness does not exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.07,0:03:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an illusion, like sunsets.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.30,0:03:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science has shown sunsets\Nand rainbows are illusions.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.37,0:03:18.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So consciousness is an illusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.29,0:03:21.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two: Well, maybe it exists,\Nbut it's really something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.54,0:03:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a computer program\Nrunning in the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.33,0:03:29.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three: No, the only thing\Nthat exists is really behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.14,0:03:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's embarrassing how influential\Nbehaviorism was,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.75,0:03:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I'll get back to that.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.10,0:03:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And four: Maybe consciousness exists,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.84,0:03:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it can't make\Nany difference to the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.05,0:03:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could spirituality move anything?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.77,0:03:43.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, whenever somebody\Ntells me that, I think,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.99,0:03:46.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you want to see spirituality\Nmove something?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.28,0:03:49.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch. I decide consciously\Nto raise my arm,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.13,0:03:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the damn thing goes up. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.74,0:03:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Furthermore, notice this:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.51,0:03:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We do not say, "Well, it's a bit\Nlike the weather in Geneva.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.50,0:04:02.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some days it goes up and some days\Nit doesn't go up."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.15,0:04:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No. It goes up whenever\NI damn well want it to.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.81,0:04:07.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay. I'm going to tell\Nyou how that's possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.12,0:04:10.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I haven't yet given you a definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.62,0:04:12.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't do this if you\Ndon't give a definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.97,0:04:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People always say consciousness\Nis very hard to define.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.96,0:04:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's rather easy to define
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.84,0:04:20.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're not trying to give\Na scientific definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.05,0:04:22.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're not ready\Nfor a scientific definition,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.33,0:04:24.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but here's a common-sense definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.12,0:04:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consciousness consists\Nof all those states of feeling
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.92,0:04:28.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sentience or awareness.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.99,0:04:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It begins in the morning when you\Nwake up from a dreamless sleep,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.55,0:04:34.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it goes on all day\Nuntil you fall asleep
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.02,0:04:38.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or die or otherwise become unconscious.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.21,0:04:41.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dreams are a form of consciousness\Non this definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.33,0:04:44.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, that's the common-sense definition.\NThat's our target.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.24,0:04:47.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're not talking about that,\Nyou're not talking about consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.74,0:04:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they think, "Well, if that's it,\Nthat's an awful problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.22,0:04:55.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can such a thing exist\Nas part of the real world?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.18,0:04:57.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this, if you've ever\Nhad a philosophy course,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.54,0:05:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is known as the famous\Nmind-body problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.29,0:05:03.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that has a simple solution too.\NI'm going to give it to you.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.55,0:05:07.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here it is: All of our conscious\Nstates, without exception,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.55,0:05:13.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are caused by lower-level\Nneurobiological processes in the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.08,0:05:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they are realized in the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.26,0:05:17.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as higher-level or system features.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.59,0:05:20.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's about as mysterious\Nas the liquidity of water.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.75,0:05:24.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right? The liquidity is not\Nan extra juice squirted out
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.22,0:05:25.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the H2O molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.91,0:05:28.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a condition that the system is in.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.79,0:05:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And just as the jar full of water\Ncan go from liquid to solid
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.95,0:05:36.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on the behavior\Nof the molecules,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.02,0:05:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so your brain can go\Nfrom a state of being conscious
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.90,0:05:40.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a state of being unconscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.54,0:05:43.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on the behavior\Nof the molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.53,0:05:47.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The famous mind-body\Nproblem is that simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.91,0:05:51.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right? But now we get\Ninto some harder questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.09,0:05:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's specify the exact\Nfeatures of consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.53,0:05:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that we can then answer\Nthose four objections
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.01,0:05:58.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I made to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.29,0:06:02.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the first feature is,\Nit's real and irreducible.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.56,0:06:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't get rid of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.61,0:06:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, the distinction\Nbetween reality and illusion
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.78,0:06:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the distinction between how things
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.45,0:06:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciously seem to us\Nand how they really are.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.33,0:06:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It consciously seems like there's --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.20,0:06:18.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like the French "arc-en-ciel" —
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.87,0:06:21.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it seems like there's an arch in the sky,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.07,0:06:24.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it seems like the sun\Nis setting over the mountains.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.85,0:06:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It consciously seems to us,\Nbut that's not really happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.95,0:06:29.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for that distinction between
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.87,0:06:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how things consciously seem\Nand how they really are,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.38,0:06:36.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't make that distinction\Nfor the very existence of consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.43,0:06:40.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because where the very existence\Nof consciousness is concerned,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.28,0:06:43.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it consciously seems to you\Nthat you are conscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.26,0:06:45.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you are conscious.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.15,0:06:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, if a bunch of experts\Ncome to me and say,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.50,0:06:51.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We are heavy-duty neurobiologists\Nand we've done a study
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.19,0:06:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of you, Searle, and we're\Nconvinced you are not conscious,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.94,0:06:55.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you are a very cleverly\Nconstructed robot,"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.01,0:06:59.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think, "Well, maybe these\Nguys are right, you know?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.28,0:07:01.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think that for a moment,\Nbecause, I mean,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.84,0:07:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Descartes may have made a lot\Nof mistakes, but he was right about this.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.76,0:07:07.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You cannot doubt the existence\Nof your own consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.71,0:07:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, that's the first\Nfeature of consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.02,0:07:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's real and irreducible.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.82,0:07:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You cannot get rid of it\Nby showing that it's an illusion
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.06,0:07:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a way that you can\Nwith other standard illusions.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.28,0:07:20.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, the second feature is this one
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.82,0:07:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that has been such\Na source of trouble to us,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.28,0:07:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is, all of our conscious states
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.46,0:07:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have this qualitative character to them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.43,0:07:30.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's something that it\Nfeels like to drink beer
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.83,0:07:33.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is not what it feels\Nlike to do your income tax
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.78,0:07:36.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or listen to music,\Nand this qualitative feel
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.84,0:07:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,automatically generates a third feature,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.41,0:07:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely, conscious states\Nare by definition subjective
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.20,0:07:46.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the sense that they only exist\Nas experienced
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.16,0:07:48.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by some human or animal subject,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.35,0:07:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some self that experiences them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.22,0:07:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe we'll be able to build\Na conscious machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.61,0:07:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since we don't know how our brains do it,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.76,0:07:58.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're not in a position, so far,\Nto build a conscious machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.89,0:08:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay. Another feature of consciousness
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.67,0:08:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it comes in unified\Nconscious fields.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.82,0:08:08.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I don't just have the sight\Nof the people in front of me
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.18,0:08:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the sound of my voice\Nand the weight of my shoes
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.89,0:08:13.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against the floor, but they occur to me
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.06,0:08:16.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as part of one single\Ngreat conscious field
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.55,0:08:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that stretches forward and backward.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.56,0:08:20.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is the key to understanding
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.33,0:08:22.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the enormous power of consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.77,0:08:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we have not been able\Nto do that in a robot.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.72,0:08:28.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The disappointment of robotics\Nderives from the fact
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.22,0:08:30.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we don't know how to make\Na conscious robot,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.57,0:08:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we don't have a machine\Nthat can do this kind of thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.62,0:08:36.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, the next feature of consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.13,0:08:39.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after this marvelous\Nunified conscious field,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.25,0:08:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it functions\Ncausally in our behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.04,0:08:45.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I gave you a scientific\Ndemonstration by raising my hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.24,0:08:46.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but how is that possible?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.99,0:08:50.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can it be that this\Nthought in my brain
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.76,0:08:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can move material objects?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.96,0:08:54.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I'll tell you the answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.46,0:08:56.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, we don't know the detailed answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.48,0:08:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we know the basic part\Nof the answer, and that is,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.18,0:09:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is a sequence of neuron firings,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.48,0:09:04.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they terminate where the acetylcholine
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.56,0:09:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is secreted at the axon\Nend-plates of the motor neurons.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.38,0:09:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sorry to use philosophical\Nterminology here,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.50,0:09:13.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when it's secreted at the axon\Nend-plates of the motor neurons,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.48,0:09:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a whole lot of wonderful things\Nhappen in the ion channels
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.26,0:09:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the damned arm goes up.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.17,0:09:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, think of what I told you.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.29,0:09:22.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One and the same event,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.03,0:09:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my conscious decision to raise my arm
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.07,0:09:27.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a level of description\Nwhere it has all of these
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.86,0:09:29.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,touchy-feely spiritual qualities.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.01,0:09:32.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a thought in my brain,\Nbut at the same time,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.41,0:09:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's busy secreting acetylcholine
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.40,0:09:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doing all sorts of other things
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.09,0:09:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it makes its way from the motor cortex
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.72,0:09:41.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down through the nerve fibers in the arm.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.42,0:09:45.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what that tells us\Nis that our traditional vocabularies
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.23,0:09:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for discussing these issues\Nare totally obsolete.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.62,0:09:51.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One and the same event has\Na level of description
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.87,0:09:54.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's neurobiological,\Nand another level of description
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.84,0:09:57.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's mental,\Nand that's a single event,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.03,0:09:59.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's how nature works.\NThat's how it's possible
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.58,0:10:02.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for consciousness to function causally.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.17,0:10:05.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, now with that in mind,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.03,0:10:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with going through these various\Nfeatures of consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.10,0:10:11.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let's go back and answer\Nsome of those early objections.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.27,0:10:14.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the first one I said was,\Nconsciousness doesn't exist,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.88,0:10:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's an illusion. Well,\NI've already answered that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.71,0:10:18.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think we need to worry about that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.74,0:10:22.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the second one had\Nan incredible influence,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.09,0:10:23.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and may still be around, and that is,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.94,0:10:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, if consciousness exists,\Nit's really something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.13,0:10:30.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's really a digital computer\Nprogram running in your brain
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.89,0:10:33.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's what we need to do\Nto create consciousness
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.44,0:10:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is get the right program.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.89,0:10:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, forget about the hardware.\NAny hardware will do
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.44,0:10:40.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provided it's rich enough and stable\Nenough to carry the program."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.61,0:10:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we know that that's wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.16,0:10:46.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, anybody who's thought\Nabout computers at all
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.17,0:10:48.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can see that that's wrong,\Nbecause computation
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.64,0:10:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is defined as symbol manipulation,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.05,0:10:53.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,usually thought of as zeros\Nas ones, but any symbols will do.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.98,0:10:57.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You get an algorithm that you can program
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.10,0:11:00.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a binary code,\Nand that's the defining trait
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.21,0:11:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the computer program.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.26,0:11:06.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we know that that's purely\Nsyntactical. That's symbolic.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.14,0:11:10.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know that actual human consciousness\Nhas something more than that.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.16,0:11:13.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's got a content\Nin addition to the syntax.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.35,0:11:14.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's got a semantics.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.85,0:11:17.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now that argument, I made\Nthat argument 30 --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.34,0:11:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,oh my God, I don't want\Nto think about it —
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.63,0:11:19.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more than 30 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.97,0:11:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there's a deeper argument\Nimplicit in what I've told you,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.90,0:11:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I want to tell you that argument\Nbriefly, and that is,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.94,0:11:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness creates\Nan observer-independent reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.09,0:11:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It creates a reality of money,\Nproperty, government,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.58,0:11:37.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marriage, CERN conferences,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.55,0:11:40.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cocktail parties and summer vacations,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.17,0:11:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all of those are creations\Nof consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.92,0:11:45.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their existence is observer-relative.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.76,0:11:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's only relative to conscious\Nagents that a piece of paper
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.26,0:11:52.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is money or that a bunch\Nof buildings is a university.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.11,0:11:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, ask yourself about computation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.98,0:11:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is that absolute, like force and mass\Nand gravitational attraction?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.65,0:12:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or is it observer-relative?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.78,0:12:05.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, some computations are intrinsic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.31,0:12:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I add two plus two to get four.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.22,0:12:09.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's going on no matter\Nwhat anybody thinks.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.79,0:12:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when I haul out my pocket calculator
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.28,0:12:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and do the calculation,\Nthe only intrinsic phenomenon
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.06,0:12:19.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the electronic circuit\Nand its behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.24,0:12:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the only absolute phenomenon.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.00,0:12:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the rest is interpreted by us.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.43,0:12:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Computation only exists\Nrelative to consciousness.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.27,0:12:30.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either a conscious agent\Nis carrying out the computation,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.04,0:12:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or he's got a piece of machinery that admits\Nof a computational interpretation.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.83,0:12:36.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now that doesn't mean\Ncomputation is arbitrary.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.76,0:12:39.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent a lot of money on this hardware.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.20,0:12:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we have this persistent confusion
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.35,0:12:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between objectivity and subjectivity\Nas features of reality
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.07,0:12:49.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and objectivity and subjectivity\Nas features of claims.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.100,0:12:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the bottom line of this\Npart of my talk is this:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.16,0:12:56.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can have a completely\Nobjective science,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.82,0:12:59.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a science where you make\Nobjectively true claims,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.73,0:13:03.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about a domain whose existence\Nis subjective,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.16,0:13:06.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose existence is in the human brain
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.39,0:13:08.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consisting of subjective\Nstates of sentience
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.53,0:13:10.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or feeling or awareness.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.22,0:13:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the objection that you can't have\Nan objective science of consciousness
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.55,0:13:18.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's subjective and science\Nis objective, that's a pun.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.76,0:13:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a bad pun on objectivity\Nand subjectivity.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.47,0:13:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can make objective claims
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.79,0:13:27.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about a domain that is subjective\Nin its mode of existence,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.84,0:13:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and indeed that's what neurologists do.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.41,0:13:31.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, you have patients\Nthat actually suffer pains,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.96,0:13:34.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you try to get\Nan objective science of that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.59,0:13:36.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, I promised to refute all these guys,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.66,0:13:38.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't have an awful\Nlot of time left,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.24,0:13:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let me refute a couple more of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.16,0:13:42.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said that behaviorism ought to be
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.38,0:13:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the great embarrassments\Nof our intellectual culture,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.67,0:13:48.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's refuted\Nthe moment you think about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.56,0:13:51.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your mental states are identical\Nwith your behavior?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.42,0:13:54.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, think about the distinction\Nbetween feeling a pain
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.57,0:13:56.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and engaging in pain behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.27,0:13:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I won't demonstrate pain\Nbehavior, but I can tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.26,0:14:00.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not having any pains right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.10,0:14:04.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's an obvious mistake. Why\Ndid they make the mistake?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.22,0:14:06.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The mistake was — and you\Ncan go back and read
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.43,0:14:09.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the literature on this, you\Ncan see this over and over —
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.12,0:14:12.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they think if you accept\Nthe irreducible existence
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.71,0:14:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of consciousness, you're\Ngiving up on science.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.50,0:14:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're giving up on 300\Nyears of human progress
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.57,0:14:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and human hope and all the rest of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.41,0:14:23.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the message I want\Nto leave you with is,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.22,0:14:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness has to become accepted
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.66,0:14:28.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a genuine biological phenomenon,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.15,0:14:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as much subject to scientific analysis
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.62,0:14:32.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as any other phenomenon in biology,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.58,0:14:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, for that matter, the rest of science.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.73,0:14:36.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.12,0:14:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)