Consciousness on camera, in print, across the table

Thanks to this post at Experimental Philosophy I found A Brood Comb, which has assembled a video collection of philosophers at work, lecturing, including such heavyweights as Thomas Metzinger and Hilary Putnam on the subjects of consciousness, experience and first-person perspective. There are also many others listed discussing a variety of subjects.

You could pay a lot of money for these lectures. Have a look.

But if you're interested in philosophy of mind and would rather read than watch, Steven Pinker recently contributed the Mystery of Consciousness to TIME, making, among other helpful points, a distinction between the Easy and Hard versions. By way of describing the timeless attraction many people feel toward the subject, Pinker also serves up this pithy quote from Woody Allen: "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying."

Well good, but I'm not waiting. The view of consciousness tonight sitting across a reserved table from Leah, my wife, will be far less complex and much more pleasing. Linen, real silverware, attentive service, smiles.

That's some kind of study.

See you Monday.

Wayne