Consciousness Uncovered

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Analysis

The Urgency of Defining Consciousness in the Age of AI

The Urgency of Defining Consciousness in the Age of AI

The big picture: A recent study found that most people think AI systems like ChatGPT have conscious experiences similar to humans. This belief isn't too surprising since these systems use first-person pronouns and communicate in ways that mimic human speech. However, when directly asked, ChatGPT clearly states it

We Need to Save Science from Scientism

We Need to Save Science from Scientism

The Big Picture: A troubling trend has emerged in recent years: the elevation of science to a near-religious status, a belief system often referred to as “scientism.” Scientism isn’t about valuing scientific inquiry and evidence-based reasoning but treating science as the ultimate arbiter of truth beyond questioning or critique.

The Mirror Neuron Mirage

The Mirror Neuron Mirage

The big picture: In the 1990s, researchers in Italy stumbled upon what they thought was a groundbreaking discovery while observing macaque monkeys during an experiment. They found that specific neurons, dubbed "mirror neurons," fired when the monkeys performed an action and when they watched humans perform the same

Separating Consciousness as Fundamental from Panpsychism

Separating Consciousness as Fundamental from Panpsychism

In 2014, David Chalmers, one of the most famous philosophers studying consciousness, delivered a TED Talk that has since amassed millions of views. His succinct phrases are frequently quoted. However, one little section has not gotten much attention, which I think is the most important for consciousness studies: David Chalmers

Debunking the Myth of AI Sentience

Debunking the Myth of AI Sentience

Unmasking AI: The Consciousness Myth Debunked Why it matters: The seeming consciousness of AI, including models like ChatGPT, sparks controversy. Clear understanding is essential as we interact with these tools more and more. 1. The Illusion of Consciousness * People often perceive AI, such as ChatGPT, as conscious due to their