We are conscious creatures. But why? Why did consciousness evolve? Can we use biology to explain the origins of feeling and meaning? Or will consciousness forever escape the grip of the scientific method?
Eva Jablonka has thought hard about these issues. An eminent evolutionary biologist, she became famous for her pioneering work on epigenetic inheritance. More recently, she has produced very original work on the evolution of consciousness with her colleague, neuroscientist Simona Ginsburg. So invited him on the show to discuss the evolution of consciousness, or what she beautifully calls "the sensitive soul".
In this episode, we discuss themes such as:
(03:00) What is consciousness?
(10:45) Four links between evolution and consciousness
(27:30) Are robots conscious? Consciousness and vulnerability
(30:45) Which animals are conscious? Consciousness and the Cambrian Explosion.
(34:30) Can science fully explain consciousness?
(48:00) The future of consciousness
As always, we end with Jablonkaâs reflections on humanity.
LINKS
Want to support the show? Checkout Patreon.com/OnHumans
Want to read and not just listen? Get the newsletter on OnHumans.Substack.com
MENTIONS
Books: Evolution of the Sensitive Soul, Picturing the Mind (both my Eva Jablonka & Simona Ginsburg)
Terms: Sensitive soul, phenomenal consciousness, intentionality (i.e. "aboutness"), the Cambrian explosion, cephalopods, anthropods, vertebrates
Names: Aristotle, Simona Ginsburg, Jonathan Birch, Antonio Damasio
Related Episodes
39 | Did We Evolve To Live In Small Groups? ~ Cecilia Padilla-Iglesias
Modern cities are unique. Never before have so many people lived so close to each other. But just how unique is our modern cosmopolitanism? Completely unique, says a traditional theory. Humans evolved to live in groups. These groups were not only smaller than modern cities. They were smaller th...
38 | Can We Understand Infinity? ~ Adrian Moore
Infinity is a puzzling idea. Even young children are fascinated by its various manifestations: What is the biggest number? Does the universe have an edge? Does time have a beginning? Philosophers have tried to answer these questions since time immemorial. More recently, they have been joined by s...
37 | How Did Humans Evolve? Why Did We? ~ Ian Tattersall
Why are we furless? Why do we cook our food and use spoken language? And how does climate change, sashimi, or the banks of Central America relate to human origins? Human evolution is a deeply puzzling topic. But behind this dense mist lies many keys to our self-understanding. To guide us through...