Love and Philosophy | Scales and Science Fiction with Biologist Michael Levin and Andrea Hiott @waymaking23 | Uploaded November 2023 | Updated October 2024, 15 hours ago.
The first of a multi-part way-making research conversation with Tufts biologist Michael Levin and philosopher Andrea Hiott. They discuss Levin's personal path and how science fiction helped him see beyond dichotomies. They also discuss their work in the scaling of cognition, espescially Mike's career and study of life forms and what it might he sees this work might mean to reorient understandings of mind.
Unraveling Cognition: Interdisciplinary Insights with Andrea Hiott and Michael Levin
Join philosopher Andrea Hiott and renowned biologist Michael Levin in an illuminating conversation that traverses the realms of cognition, spatio-temporal perception, and metacognition. In this comprehensive discussion, they explore the intersections of philosophical frameworks and scientific research, delving into themes such as pattern formation in biological systems, sensory augmentation, and the remarkable behaviors of simple organisms like bacteria. They also discuss the potential implications of these discoveries on understanding intelligence and the unique phenomenon of xenobots. This episode promises a deep dive into the unification of diverse scientific fields, setting the stage for more thought-provoking dialogues.
00:00 Introduction and Research Context
00:33 Discovering Michael Levin's Work
01:11 Exploring Cognition and Navigation
02:07 Philosophical Framework and Scientific Integration
07:12 Michael Levin's Background and Interests
10:44 Developmental Biology and Agency
26:48 Practical Applications and Ethical Considerations
33:01 Courtroom Realization: We All Come from an Egg
33:40 The Continuum of Life and Self-Perception
34:29 Reactions to the Concept of Self
34:47 Collaborations and Diverse Perspectives
35:36 The Changing Self and Memory Construction
36:47 Humanity and Proof of Existence
38:25 Compassion and Cognitive Light Cones
40:44 The Impact of Scientific Discoveries on Self-Perception
45:07 The Role of Sci-Fi in Understanding Agency
49:31 The Neuroscience of Cells and Cognition
53:49 Cognition as Navigation and Way Making
54:22 The Concept of Morphospace and Diverse Intelligences
01:00:54 Final Thoughts and Future Discussions
#philosophy #scifi #scales #MichaelLevin #AndreaHiott #beyonddichotomy #podcast #loveandphilosophy #sciencefiction #biology
Links to the papers mentioned:
TAME and Light Cones: frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02688/full
Navigation: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35741540
Links to more of Michael Levin's work:
Twitter: twitter.com/drmichaellevin
Website: drmichaellevin.org
More Papers:
Biological Robots: arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880
Limb Regeneration: science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164
SciFi Story Made of Meat by Terry Bisson: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They%27re_Made_Out_of_Meat
SubscribeToYouTubeVideos: youtube.com/@waymaking23
Website for Love and Philosophy Beyond Dichotomy: loveandphilosophy.com
SEMF: semf.org.es/school2023
Hosted by Andrea Hiott. More at andreahiott.com
These are conversations I’ve been having with scientists, artists, & philosophers to understand how our approach to life and cognition might address some of the urgent divides we face today.
By love and philosophy, I mean the people, passions, and ideas that move us, shape the trajectories of our lives, and co-create our wider social landscapes.
Partly due to my trajectory in philosophy, technology, & the cognitive sciences, I’m hoping to better observe binary distinctions in our academic & personal lives (science vs. spiritual, mental vs. physical, technological vs. biological). What positive roles have these structures played? How might rethinking these structures & their parameters open new paths & ecological potentials?
The first of a multi-part way-making research conversation with Tufts biologist Michael Levin and philosopher Andrea Hiott. They discuss Levin's personal path and how science fiction helped him see beyond dichotomies. They also discuss their work in the scaling of cognition, espescially Mike's career and study of life forms and what it might he sees this work might mean to reorient understandings of mind.
Unraveling Cognition: Interdisciplinary Insights with Andrea Hiott and Michael Levin
Join philosopher Andrea Hiott and renowned biologist Michael Levin in an illuminating conversation that traverses the realms of cognition, spatio-temporal perception, and metacognition. In this comprehensive discussion, they explore the intersections of philosophical frameworks and scientific research, delving into themes such as pattern formation in biological systems, sensory augmentation, and the remarkable behaviors of simple organisms like bacteria. They also discuss the potential implications of these discoveries on understanding intelligence and the unique phenomenon of xenobots. This episode promises a deep dive into the unification of diverse scientific fields, setting the stage for more thought-provoking dialogues.
00:00 Introduction and Research Context
00:33 Discovering Michael Levin's Work
01:11 Exploring Cognition and Navigation
02:07 Philosophical Framework and Scientific Integration
07:12 Michael Levin's Background and Interests
10:44 Developmental Biology and Agency
26:48 Practical Applications and Ethical Considerations
33:01 Courtroom Realization: We All Come from an Egg
33:40 The Continuum of Life and Self-Perception
34:29 Reactions to the Concept of Self
34:47 Collaborations and Diverse Perspectives
35:36 The Changing Self and Memory Construction
36:47 Humanity and Proof of Existence
38:25 Compassion and Cognitive Light Cones
40:44 The Impact of Scientific Discoveries on Self-Perception
45:07 The Role of Sci-Fi in Understanding Agency
49:31 The Neuroscience of Cells and Cognition
53:49 Cognition as Navigation and Way Making
54:22 The Concept of Morphospace and Diverse Intelligences
01:00:54 Final Thoughts and Future Discussions
#philosophy #scifi #scales #MichaelLevin #AndreaHiott #beyonddichotomy #podcast #loveandphilosophy #sciencefiction #biology
Links to the papers mentioned:
TAME and Light Cones: frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02688/full
Navigation: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35741540
Links to more of Michael Levin's work:
Twitter: twitter.com/drmichaellevin
Website: drmichaellevin.org
More Papers:
Biological Robots: arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880
Limb Regeneration: science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164
SciFi Story Made of Meat by Terry Bisson: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They%27re_Made_Out_of_Meat
SubscribeToYouTubeVideos: youtube.com/@waymaking23
Website for Love and Philosophy Beyond Dichotomy: loveandphilosophy.com
SEMF: semf.org.es/school2023
Hosted by Andrea Hiott. More at andreahiott.com
These are conversations I’ve been having with scientists, artists, & philosophers to understand how our approach to life and cognition might address some of the urgent divides we face today.
By love and philosophy, I mean the people, passions, and ideas that move us, shape the trajectories of our lives, and co-create our wider social landscapes.
Partly due to my trajectory in philosophy, technology, & the cognitive sciences, I’m hoping to better observe binary distinctions in our academic & personal lives (science vs. spiritual, mental vs. physical, technological vs. biological). What positive roles have these structures played? How might rethinking these structures & their parameters open new paths & ecological potentials?
