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Philosopher Keith Frankish interviews leading philosophers of mind and cognitive scientistsThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ philosophy of mind and cognitive science • theories of consciousness, representation, intentionality • introspection and first-person perspective • sensation vs perception, blindsight, colour experience • artificial agents, large language models, artificial consciousness • evolution, spirituality, mental healthThis podcast features in-depth interviews hosted by philosopher Keith Frankish with prominent philosophers of mind and cognitive scientists. Conversations center on how the mind should be understood using tools from philosophy and the cognitive sciences, with an emphasis on theories of consciousness, representation, perception, and introspection. Across discussions, guests outline and defend naturalistic approaches to mental phenomena, often questioning familiar ways of talking about subjective experience and examining whether some commonsense categories—such as certain kinds of “what it is like” experience or straightforward inner awareness—are theoretically useful.
A recurring focus is the relationship between first-person reports and third-person scientific explanation. Topics include how to treat introspection as a source of evidence, how to characterize mental content and intentionality, and how to connect conscious experience to perception and brain processes. The podcast also explores case studies and phenomena from psychology and neuroscience (such as blindsight) to motivate distinctions between sensation and perception and to consider what consciousness might be for, including possible evolutionary functions.
Alongside debates about whether phenomenal consciousness is real, illusory, or in need of reconceptualization, the show engages with contemporary questions about artificial agents and artificial consciousness. It addresses the implications of large language models and digital technologies for our understanding of agency and mind, including issues raised by creating digital replicas of thinkers and the broader effects of AI on the online information environment. Wider themes sometimes extend to human and animal sentience, spirituality and materialism, and practical existential topics that intersect with theories of mind.
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3: Anna Strasser 2025-Oct-12 48 minutes |
2: Pete Mandik2022-Apr-16 152 minutes |
1: Nicholas Humphrey2022-Jan-15 112 minutes |