Speaker

,

Author

Nayef Al-Rodhan

Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan is a philosopher, neuroscientist, geostrategist and futurologist. He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University; Head of the Geopolitics and Global Futures Department at the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Switzerland; and a Member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Complex Risks at the World Economic Forum.

Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan is a philosopher, neuroscientist, geostrategist and futurologist. He is an Honorary Fellow of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University; Head of the Geopolitics and Global Futures Department at the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Switzerland; and a Member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Complex Risks at the World Economic Forum.

More Videos

A crystal ball on a wooden stump reflects a sunset and a silhouetted figure in the background, creating a surreal perspective of the landscape.

Robert Rowland Smith,Colin Blakemore,Mary Midgley

In Search of the Self

Are you an illusion?

Iain McGilchrist,Shahidha Bari,Beatrix Campbell

The Limits of Logic

Should we embrace the irrational?

Close-up of a human eye with detailed eyelashes and reflections in the iris, showcasing shades of brown and hints of light.

The Fractured Mind

Bence Nanay | Should we avoid temptations?

Abstract artwork featuring stylized, human figures in vibrant colors, with one figure raising their arms and others engaged in various poses.

Robert Rowland Smith,Peter Hacker,David Chalmers,Susana Martinez-Conde

The Dance of Life

Is experience all that we have?

A figure holding an ornate mirror reflecting a gloomy landscape with bare trees, creating a surreal and enigmatic atmosphere.

Joanna Kavenna,David Malone,Ed Stafford,David Chalmers

In Search Of Ourselves

Is self-discovery a desirable and vital goal?

An illustration of a stylized human brain, split into two halves, with vibrant splashes of color emanating from the right side, symbolizing creativity and emotion.

Barry C. Smith,Roger Bolton,Steven Rose,Margaret Boden

Neuroscience vs. Philosophy

Explaining the secrets of the mind

A spiral arrangement of books creating a vortex-like effect, showcasing various colorful book spines and covers.

James Garvey,Corine Besson,Alison Milbank,Stephen Batchelor

The Limits of Reason

Is knowledge stranger than reason?

An abstract black-and-white illustration of a bat in flight, showcasing intricate lines and textures that emphasize its wings and body.

Hilary Lawson,Barry C. Smith,Rupert Read,Ophelia Deroy

The Illusion of Sense

Do our senses radically limit our understanding?

A close-up of sunglasses with water droplets on the lenses, featuring a small figurine reaching upwards beside splashes of paint.

Massimo Pigliucci

How to be a Stoic

Live your Best Life

A white chess pawn stands next to a mirror reflecting a larger white king chess piece. The scene conveys themes of perception and ambition.

Barry C. Smith,Nicholas Humphrey,Robert Eaglestone,Anita Avramides

Knowing Others and Knowing Oneself

Are the minds of others profoundly unknowable?

A grand library interior featuring high arched ceilings, tall windows, and rows of bookshelves, with people reading and studying at wooden tables.

The Mind and the World

Raymond Tallis | The issue with neuromania

A stylized illustration of a human head with visible anatomical features amidst waves and flying birds, symbolizing the connection between humanity and nature.

Theodore Dalrymple,Sean Curran,Julian Le Grand,Claire Fox

The Limits of Freedom

Is there such a thing as too much freedom?

A person floating on their back in a serene, reflective body of water surrounded by trees, evoking a sense of calm and tranquility.

Susan Blackmore,Nicholas Humphrey,Philip Goff,Barry C. Smith

The Secrets of Consciousness

Can the brain explain experience?

A surreal landscape featuring giant, transparent humanoid heads with circuitry patterns, set against a futuristic digital background with a blue sky and grid-like ground.

Joanna Kavenna,Eva Jablonka,Ray Brassier,Markus Gabriel

Matter and Mind

Is consciousness inexplicable?

A woman with long hair stands at the beach, her head partially covered by a flowing grey scarf against a cloudy sky and calm sea.

Hearts and Minds

Should intuition or reason guide us?

A person in a white blouse and red skirt holds an ornate golden picture frame in front of their face, standing in a grassy field under a cloudy sky.

Mark Salter,Helen Croydon,Richard K. Morgan,John Cottingham

The Story of I

Where does the narrative of the self come from?

A silhouetted figure with outstretched arms stands against a vibrant orange and yellow sunset sky.

Jonathan Derbyshire,George Ellis,Patrick Haggard,Jennifer Hornsby

The Chemistry of Freedom

Is free will an illusion?

A surreal depiction of a human face from which cosmic elements like galaxies and planets emerge, symbolizing exploration and the vastness of the universe.

Rupert Sheldrake

Mind and the Universe

Is consciousness stranger than we thought?

A sagittal MRI scan of the human brain, showcasing detailed anatomical structures including the cerebral cortex and brainstem.

Mark Salter,Nayef Al-Rodhan,Philip Ball,Kristina Musholt

Fate, Freedom, and Neuroscience

The science of free will

A surreal image featuring two faceless women with flowing hair against a textured landscape background, evoking themes of identity and freedom.

Parashkev Nachev,Simon Wessely,Janne Teller,Suzannah Lipscomb

Truth, Lies and Self-Deception

Can we see ourselves clearly if we want to?

Roger Penrose,Iain McGilchrist,Joanna Kavenna,Nicholas Humphrey

Secrets of the Mind

Can science explain consciousness?

A close-up of a human eye, showcasing intricate patterns in the iris with shades of blue, green, and brown, highlighting the detailed textures and reflections.

David Malone,Nicholas Humphrey,Galen Strawson,Shaun Ley

The Mind's Eye

Consciousness and the soul

$A mesmerizing fractal design featuring swirling shapes in shades of blue and brown, converging toward a bright, glowing center.$

Rupert Sheldrake

The Extended Mind

Is consciousness confined to the body?

A close-up of a woman's face with striking green eyes, featuring a barcode tattooed on her forehead against a dark background.

John Harris,Simon Glendinning,Brooke Magnanti,Anne Phillips

Owning Ourselves

Are our bodies our property?

A surreal depiction of a brain formed by intertwined human hands, symbolizing complex thought and creativity against a black background.

Roger Penrose,Hilary Lawson,Iain McGilchrist,Steve Fuller

Being Conscious

The science and philosophy of consciousness

An elderly man in a tweed jacket gestures while holding papers, speaking in a colorful tent-like setting, suggesting an academic or philosophical discussion.

On Having a Mind, Having a Body, and Being a Person

A close-up portrait of a thoughtful man resting his chin on his hand, with a neutral expression against a bright yellow background.

Christopher Hamilton

The Fragility of the Human Personality

A plume of smoke rising dramatically against a dark background, resembling twisting shapes, indicative of a rocket launch or explosion.

Dangerous Convictions

Frank Furedi | Could we live without certainty?

A surreal scene depicting a woman floating above another figure lying on a bed, both shrouded in ethereal, flowing fabrics and illuminated by soft lighting.

Actual Consciousness

The Limits of Human Consciousness and Thought

A silhouette of a person with arms raised, standing in a grassy field against a dramatic sunset with dark clouds and rays of light.

Shahidha Bari,James Williams,Véronique Mottier

Stories of Desire

Can desire help us make sense of the world?

A person seated on a wooden dock by a serene lake, surrounded by towering mountains and lush greenery under a clear blue sky.

Miguel Farias,Linda Woodhead,Vishvapani Blomfield,Barry C Smith

At One With Ourselves

Are meditation and mindfulness just myths?

A man with disheveled gray hair and glasses speaks into a microphone, gesturing with one hand, possibly during a lecture or discussion.

Mind in the 21st Century

A dimly lit hotel corridor with room numbers visible, leading toward a brightly illuminated exit at the far end.

Lou Marinoff,Renata Salecl,Lynne Segal,Peter Curran

The Tyranny of Freedom

Do we have too much choice?

An abstract swirl of vibrant colors, featuring deep blues, oranges, and hints of floral patterns, creating a dynamic and visually engaging composition.

The Evolution of Consciousness

The transformative ideas of Owen Barfield

A 3D artwork depicting a tunnel-like structure made of broken bricks, creating the illusion of depth and movement.

Steve Fuller,Robert Rowland Smith,Peter Hacker,Steven Rose

The Edge of Reason

Beyond the limits of rationality

A thoughtful older man with glasses and tousled hair sits at a table, hand on his chin, against a colorful geometric backdrop.

Metaphors of the Mind

Does metaphor hold the key to consciousness?

A vibrant landscape painting featuring a winding road, colorful houses with red roofs, and lush greenery under a bright blue sky.

Mark Vernon,David Malone,Emma Borg,Oliver Burkeman

The Road to the Good Life

Is reason the key to a better world?

A person holding torn photographs of faces, standing against a textured wall, conveying a sense of identity struggle or duality.

Are Selves Unreal?

Debunking the establishment's attack on the Self

A man speaking into a microphone, focused on delivering a message, with soft lighting highlighting his expression.

Rachel Armstrong,Tim Crane,Colin Blakemore,Mary Midgley,John Harris

Animal Reason

Is consciousness unique to humans?

An older man with silver hair gestures while speaking, seated on a floral-patterned chair. A glass pitcher is visible in the foreground.

Hilary Lawson,Bryan Appleyard,Elisabeth Schellekens,Semir Zeki

Inside the Mind’s Eye

A woman with long blonde hair holds a magnifying glass over her eye, creating a surreal effect as her enlarged eye peers through the glass.

Christopher Hamilton,Daniel Miller,Adjoa Andoh,Helen Croydon

Catching Sight of Ourselves

Who looks back in the mirror?

White vintage garments, including a pair of bloomers and two lace-trimmed tops, hang on a clothesline against a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds.

The Philosopher’s Guide to Style

Why appearance matters

A person in a casual jacket speaks in a colorful, decorated tent, with a welcoming expression and gesturing with one hand.

The Ego Trick

Is the self an illusion?

An older person with short, gray hair and wearing a floral-patterned blazer, sitting near a microphone with an attentive expression.

Jonathan Derbyshire,Mary Warnock,Hilary Lawson,Mark Salter,Robert Rowland Smith

Sensuality and Deception

A man with glasses speaks into a microphone, against a patterned background. He appears engaged in a discussion or presentation.

Henrietta Moore,Julian Baggini,Barry C. Smith,Martin Jacques,Simon May

Who Looks Back in the Mirror

Are we any closer to understanding the self, and what makes each one of us who we are?

Aerial view of a spiral staircase with ornate railings, leading down to a circular area with people and a sculpture at the bottom.

Don Cupitt,Yasmin Alibhai-Brown,Mark Salter,Juliet Gardiner

Outrageous Fortune

Fate in modern society

A black-and-white image of a spiraling staircase featuring intricate railings and steps, leading towards a bright light at the top.

Robert Rowland Smith

The Architecture of Being

Navigating our relationships

A silhouette of a person standing in a dark tunnel, illuminated by bright light at the other end, with water reflecting on the ground.

Robert Rowland Smith

Entering the Unknown

What can we know of ourselves and the world?

A cluster of hanging light bulbs with one bulb glowing brightly against a blue background, creating a contrast with the surrounding bulbs.

Barry C. Smith,Robert Rowland Smith,Julie Bindel,Shahidha Bari

Thinking Afresh

Is consistency consistent?

A speaker gesturing while seated, discussing topics in front of a colorful patterned backdrop, with a glass and microphone visible on the table.

David Maclagan,Livy Powell

The View From Outside

More Articles

A three-part representation of Earth showcasing different continents, with visible landmasses, oceans, and cloud patterns.

Tipping points and the Earth's system

A hand extends outward, holding a glowing, detailed representation of Earth against a blurred blue background.

Giuseppina D’Oro

Human history in the age of the Anthropocene

Digital chains made of glowing blue links, displaying binary code patterns, representing blockchain technology and data security concepts.

Wessel Reijers,Morshed Mannan

Could blockchain end big tech?

Michael Paul Nelson

Nature is not a resource for humans

A vibrant, abstract corridor of colorful squares leading toward a bright light at the end, framed by glowing beams and a futuristic perspective.

The dangers of Zuckerberg's metaverse

Satellite image of a powerful hurricane, showcasing a vivid spiral of clouds with a dark eye at the center and bright colors indicating intensity and wind patterns.

The new science of extreme weather

An abstract image depicting a network of colorful lines and binary code, representing data flow and digital communication.

AI is turning us into machines

A colorful, abstract representation of a brain, showcasing intricate neural pathways and connections in a vivid, swirling pattern.

Brian Patrick Green

Neurons in a dish learn to play Pong

A polygonal handshake illustration symbolizing cooperation and partnership, with one hand in warm colors and the other in cool colors against a dark background.

How technology will revolutionise relationships

A stylized digital sculpture of a humanoid head, composed of blue and cyan geometric patterns, set against a black background with various abstract shapes and designs.

Mikkel Krenchel,Maria Cury

We should all be worried about synthetic data

A digital illustration of a human head composed of interconnected geometric shapes, with a colorful neural network pattern symbolizing artificial intelligence and data flow against a dark background.

Google's AI is not sentient. Not even slightly

A dynamic image depicting vibrant streaks of red and blue light extending outward against a black background, resembling flowing ribbons or a comet's tail.

Roman V. Yampolskiy

The AI containment problem

A stylized, shirtless human figure wearing an orange virtual reality headset, resting their chin on a hand, against a pink background.

Technological determinism is wrong

Silhouettes of people stand in front of a large, illuminated beaker symbol, blending shades of pink and blue against a dark background.

The dangers of science behind closed doors

An electric car charging with a charging plug connected to its port against a vibrant sunset background.

Why electric cars are a mistake

A robotic hand inserting a geometric block into a corresponding slot on a white surface, showcasing technology and automation in action.

Susan Hespos,Brendan Dalton

Why we have the future of AI wrong

A futuristic depiction of three humanoid robots against a circuit board background, symbolizing technology and artificial intelligence.

Why AI must learn to forget

A glowing blue digital brain with circuit patterns, surrounded by interconnected lines and nodes, symbolizing artificial intelligence and neural networks.

Emily M. Bender,Chirag Shah

All-knowing machines are a fantasy

A vintage red toy robot with colorful buttons and dials, lying on a wooden surface.

AI may need sleep too

A digital representation of a human face dissolving into geometric shapes and particles, illuminated by glowing green and yellow lights.

Bernardo Kastrup

The lunacy of 'machine consciousness'

A digital art representation of a human face dissolving into colorful pixels and light, symbolizing technology and transformation.

Susan Schneider

'Machine consciousness' is not lunacy

A solitary astronaut stands on a rocky surface, facing a glowing circular portal set against a misty, muted background.

Martin Rees,Donald Goldsmith

The end of astronauts

A robotic hand reaches towards a human hand, highlighting the connection between technology and humanity against a dark background.

Machine Life

A person in a suit stands in a digital corridor surrounded by glowing code and binary, facing a futuristic cityscape beyond a large frame.

Google, Amazon and Plato’s Cave

A close-up of a honeybee in flight, with vibrant yellow sunflower petals in the background.

The culture of bees and the AI apocalypse

A digital representation of a brain composed of interconnected lines and nodes, illuminated by bright lights, symbolizing neural networks and advanced technology.

Alexis Papazoglou

AI and the end of reason

Close-up of a red and black circuit board, showcasing intricate pathways and numerous solder points, emphasizing technology and design in electronics.

Controlling the threats from AI

A futuristic, brightly colored representation of a human brain on a circuit board, symbolizing the fusion of neuroscience and technology.

AI, Moloch, and the race to the bottom

A colorful digital illustration of a cell, showcasing intricate structures, organelles, and filament-like extensions in vibrant blue, green, and orange hues.

Stem cells: the hype and the dangerous reality

An illustration of a contemplative figure with a furrowed brow, holding a blank sheet of paper against a dark background, conveying introspection and depth.

Ancient traits in modern life