The Well | The science of the “self” | Michael Levin @The-Well | Uploaded August 2023 | Updated October 2024, 13 minutes ago.
How do “you” emerge from a collection of cells? A biologist explains.
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The concept of the “self” has long been considered philosophically significant: a foundation for exploring who we are and why we’re here. But where does the self begin? Developmental biologist Michael Levin explores this question, explaining how the “self” is constantly being constructed and created, starting in the early moments of embryogenesis.
Levin argues against binary categorizations of selfhood, emphasizing that it is a continuous process with no sharp lines between different stages of development or evolution. Using the example of self-organizing cells in the formation of the embryo, Levin also asserts that the self is not a singular entity — rather, it is a collection of structures working together towards a specific goal.
For Levin, the idea of the self extends to understanding the world around us, as everything we encounter is an answer to the question of what we can expect to happen next. Rather than being limited by reductionist views, Levin encourages a focus on what we can do next, highlighting the importance of actions and decisions over rigid definitions of selfhood.
Read the full video transcript: bigthink.com/the-well/the-science-of-the-self
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Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.
So what do they think?
How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions?
Let’s dive into The Well.
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How do “you” emerge from a collection of cells? A biologist explains.
❍ Subscribe to The Well on YouTube: bit.ly/welcometothewell
❍ Up next: How your brain creates reality | youtu.be/xdGgVYIqvrQ
The concept of the “self” has long been considered philosophically significant: a foundation for exploring who we are and why we’re here. But where does the self begin? Developmental biologist Michael Levin explores this question, explaining how the “self” is constantly being constructed and created, starting in the early moments of embryogenesis.
Levin argues against binary categorizations of selfhood, emphasizing that it is a continuous process with no sharp lines between different stages of development or evolution. Using the example of self-organizing cells in the formation of the embryo, Levin also asserts that the self is not a singular entity — rather, it is a collection of structures working together towards a specific goal.
For Levin, the idea of the self extends to understanding the world around us, as everything we encounter is an answer to the question of what we can expect to happen next. Rather than being limited by reductionist views, Levin encourages a focus on what we can do next, highlighting the importance of actions and decisions over rigid definitions of selfhood.
Read the full video transcript: bigthink.com/the-well/the-science-of-the-self
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
❍ About The Well ❍
Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.
So what do they think?
How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions?
Let’s dive into The Well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The Well on your favorite platforms:
❍ Facebook: bit.ly/thewellFB
❍ Instagram: bit.ly/thewellIG
