Thomas Metzinger: Neuroethics, psychedelics, and conscious AI

Thomas Metzinger is a philosopher and author whose work focuses neuroethics, neurotechnology, and the philosophy of mind. Thomas is the author of books on the philosophy of mind, consciousness, and the self, including the Ego Tunnel, Being No One, and The Elephant and the Blind.

Today’s topics include the prospects for engineering post-biotic conscious systems, and the ethical implications of doing so; psychedelic drugs and psychedelic experiences, and what these might teach us about the nature of the mind; the range of possible conscious experiences available to human beings and other systems; climate change; intellectual honesty; and other topics.

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Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:10 Postbiotic conscious systems

0:13:00 The Ego Tunnel

0:20:15 Space of possible experiences

0:29:13 Psychedelics and epistemology

0:36:17 Ethical obligations to explore phenomenal state space

0:50:36 Climate change & culture of consciousness

1:00:45 Can we pull back from the brink?

1:09:00 AI ethics & suffering AI

1:27:20 Minimal forms of consciousness

1:35:40 Book recommendations

1:37:00 Advice (meditate!)

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