Monday 9th May - 05:00 PM BST
IAI Live May - The Dawn of Consciousness
Donald Hoffman, Eva Jablonka, Iain McGilchrist, Michelle Montague, Bonaventura Majolo, Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Join us for an evening exploring the philosophy behind a world under threat. We assume consciousness is central to being human, but how did it emerge and does it benefit the human species or might it even encourage catastrophe?
We imagine that out of barren lumps of rock gradually life emerged and then in due course consciousness. But science has struggled to provide an evolutionary explanation for consciousness, or even to have clearly identified the survival benefit for conscious species. Judging by the horrors of human history and recent events, consciousness might even be making things worse. This flaw was apparent from the outset. Thomas Huxley nicknamed 'Darwin's Bulldog' described consciousness as "unaccountable as the appearance of the Genie, when Aladdin rubbed his lamp."
May's IAI Live event explores the dawn and origin of consciousness and how to make sense of who and where we are. Join the worlds leading thinkers in an evening of debate, interviews, talks, groundbreaking films, and music.
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5.00pm
Documentary Screening - DOKBOX Cinema
All in the Mind
Explores the working of the brain and how it might have a baring on our expeirence.
5.15pm
Big Sofa Interview - The Lounge
The World Is Not Made Of Things
Iain McGilchrist
6.00pm
Headline Debate - The Arena
The Dawn of Consciousness
Donald Hoffman, Eva Jablonka, Iain McGilchrist, Michelle Montague.
Robert Lawrence Kuhn Hosts
How did consciousness emerge and does it benefit the human species or might it even encourage catastrophe?
7.00pm
Meet The Speakers - The Lounge
7.00pm
Documentary Screening - DOKBOX Cinema
Darwin's Beagle
Follow in the footsteps of the journey that changed science.
7.20pm
Solo Talk - The Arena
The Evolution of War
Bonaventura Majolo
7.30pm
Music - The Stage
Tickets for IAI Live May are just £4.99 and include access to all the evening’s events, screenings and performances. Book here.
IAI Live and Premium Live subscribers can join all IAI Live events for free, no need to book.
5.00pm
Documentary Screening - DOKBOX Cinema
All in the Mind
5.15pm
Big Sofa Interview - The Lounge
The world isn't made of things, with Iain McGilchrist
6.00pm
Headline Debate - The Arena
The Dawn of Consciousness
7.00pm
Meet The Speakers - The Lounge
7.00pm
Documentary Screening - DOKBOX Cinema
Darwin's Beagle
7.15pm
Solo Talk - The Arena
The Evolution of War
7.30pm
Music - The Stage
Ren Harvieu
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Donald Hoffman
Anti-reality theorist
Donald Hoffman is an American cognitive psychologist working at the University of California, Irvine. He is making waves with a new theory suggesting that, instead of presenting reality as it "really is", our perception is like a desktop interface enabling us to use reality effectively.
"One of the deepest and most original thinkers of his generation” – Steven Pinker
Eva Jablonka
Theoretical biologist and Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Tel Aviv University
Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Tel Aviv University, Jablonka is a theoretical biologist. Her books include Evolution in Four Dimensions.
Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Acclaimed public intellectual
Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth; bridging science and philosophy to unravel the enigmas of existence, Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including 'The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All?' and 'Closer to Truth: Challenging Current Belief'.
Bonaventura Majolo
Bonaventura Majolo is a Professor of Social Evolution at the University of Lincoln and has led pioneering research into altruism, competition, aggression and warfare amongst primate species.
Iain McGilchrist
Iain McGilchrist is psychiatrist and writer, best known for his book 'The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World.' A former Consultant Psychiatrist at the Bethlem Royal, his new book 'The Matter With Things' explores the ways to truth and what is true.
Michelle Montague
Michelle Montague is an eminent philosopher of mind who focusses on the analysis of conscious perception, conscious emotion, and conscious thought. She is author of numerous articles and is a contributor to 'Philosophers on Consciousness' alongside Susan Blackmore, Daniel Dennett, Patricia Churchland and David Chalmers.
