What do you think?
Consciousness and Its Implications
Consciousness, a unique and perplexing mental state, has been the subject of debate for philosophers and scientists for millennia. And while it is widely agreed within contemporary philosophy that consciousness is a problem whose solutions are likely to determine the fate of any number of other problems, there is no settled position on the ultimate nature of consciousness. This series of 12 penetrating and thought-provoking lectures by an acclaimed teacher and scholar approaches its subject directly and unflinchingly. Rather than trying to explain away consciousness, or hide behind convenient slogans like "it's all in your brain," Professor Robinson reviews some of the problems that philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and doctors face when taking on this vexing topic, addressing questions that include. What is the most promising way to study this subject? What are the implications that arise from the fact that we have consciousness? What are the ethical and moral issues raised by its presence - or absence?
Professor Robinson draws on the wisdom of the world's greatest thinkers to shed light on the ethical debates involved in any examination of consciousness, including John Locke, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Aristotle. And he also explores the impact of modern physics and medicine on our understanding of the self. Pondering questions from the most fundamental to contemporary quandaries about artificial intelligence, you'll gain new insights into the complexity of how great minds define consciousness.
Runtime: 6 hours, 7 minutes.
Professor Robinson draws on the wisdom of the world's greatest thinkers to shed light on the ethical debates involved in any examination of consciousness, including John Locke, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Aristotle. And he also explores the impact of modern physics and medicine on our understanding of the self. Pondering questions from the most fundamental to contemporary quandaries about artificial intelligence, you'll gain new insights into the complexity of how great minds define consciousness.
Runtime: 6 hours, 7 minutes.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Daniel N. Robinson
70 books78 followersDaniel N. Robinson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a Fellow of the Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University.
Robinson has published in a wide variety of subjects, including moral philosophy, the philosophy of psychology, legal philosophy, the philosophy of the mind, intellectual history, legal history, and the history of psychology. He has held academic positions at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. In addition, he served as the principal consultant to PBS and the BBC for their award-winning series 'The Brain' and 'The Mind', and he lectured for 'The Great Courses' series on Philosophy. He is on the Board of Consulting Scholars of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and is a Senior Fellow of BYU's Wheatley Institution. In 2011 he received the Gittler Award from the American Psychological Association for significant contributions to the philosophical foundations of Psychology.
Robinson has published in a wide variety of subjects, including moral philosophy, the philosophy of psychology, legal philosophy, the philosophy of the mind, intellectual history, legal history, and the history of psychology. He has held academic positions at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. In addition, he served as the principal consultant to PBS and the BBC for their award-winning series 'The Brain' and 'The Mind', and he lectured for 'The Great Courses' series on Philosophy. He is on the Board of Consulting Scholars of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and is a Senior Fellow of BYU's Wheatley Institution. In 2011 he received the Gittler Award from the American Psychological Association for significant contributions to the philosophical foundations of Psychology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 25, 2017
I think the question of consciousness is an interesting one and I've read a few books on the topic. I tried listening to this lecture series once before, but gave up in favor of something more immediately interesting. I decided to give it another try, and since I had nothing else on hand I managed to make it through (a few long drives helped the process). Overall it is a disappointing work, somewhat disorganized and rambling, but also seemingly committed to exploring the idea from a very old-fashioned philosophical perspective, and not giving enough consideration to the potential for science or scientific methods of inquiry to provide insight on the issues.
There is a lot that I could say, so I will limit myself. The first lecture is on zombies. Specifically, the lecturer is interested in philosophical zombies, which are a thought experiment where you imagine something that resembles a human in behavior and/or appearance, but which lacks consciousness. But he introduces the concept by describing Hollywood zombies and how they might behave like humans, which suggests that he hasn't actually watched any zombie movies, and makes you wonder why he would attempt such an awkward introduction. Hollywood zombies resemble humans in exactly the way a corpse resembles a human, but behave like very basic animals: respond to stimuli like sound or motion, move towards food sources, eat. They actually come across as a counter argument to the idea of a philosophical zombie: what happens if you take something that resembles a human, but it lacks consciousness? Oh, it can't function as a human, what a surprise. Which is the problem I have with philosophical zombies. I think this argument is touched on, but it is either dismissed or largely passed over, but I think a philosophical zombie is a problem because even if it can be conceived of, it is almost certainly an impossibility in reality.
Which is actually a problem with a lot of the more purely philosophical lines of thought highlighted in this work. The proponents of certain arguments (at least as presented by the lecturer) seem to say that because a thought experiment can go a certain way, that means their idea is true, or else that their opponents idea must be flawed or even false. But our knowledge of the world is incomplete and it is very well possible that things we can conceive of couldn't actually work in reality.
There are other flaws, but I could spend way too much time laying out my counter arguments. It isn't worth the time.
There is a lot that I could say, so I will limit myself. The first lecture is on zombies. Specifically, the lecturer is interested in philosophical zombies, which are a thought experiment where you imagine something that resembles a human in behavior and/or appearance, but which lacks consciousness. But he introduces the concept by describing Hollywood zombies and how they might behave like humans, which suggests that he hasn't actually watched any zombie movies, and makes you wonder why he would attempt such an awkward introduction. Hollywood zombies resemble humans in exactly the way a corpse resembles a human, but behave like very basic animals: respond to stimuli like sound or motion, move towards food sources, eat. They actually come across as a counter argument to the idea of a philosophical zombie: what happens if you take something that resembles a human, but it lacks consciousness? Oh, it can't function as a human, what a surprise. Which is the problem I have with philosophical zombies. I think this argument is touched on, but it is either dismissed or largely passed over, but I think a philosophical zombie is a problem because even if it can be conceived of, it is almost certainly an impossibility in reality.
Which is actually a problem with a lot of the more purely philosophical lines of thought highlighted in this work. The proponents of certain arguments (at least as presented by the lecturer) seem to say that because a thought experiment can go a certain way, that means their idea is true, or else that their opponents idea must be flawed or even false. But our knowledge of the world is incomplete and it is very well possible that things we can conceive of couldn't actually work in reality.
There are other flaws, but I could spend way too much time laying out my counter arguments. It isn't worth the time.
September 20, 2016
A great book/course. Which explains different theories of consciousness with a critical view.
July 30, 2021
Robinson was such a fantastic lecturer.
May 7, 2017
Mental gymnastics are a fun diversion, but when you strip away all the parts that are just debates over terminology and taxonomy the significant part of what remains should and is being addressed by hard science. What can we know about the mind? Plenty, lets talk to some neuroscientists. Is physics complete? The schools of folks debating that one are physicists on all sides disagreeing with each other and furiously doing math.
Time is spent debating what can be known, instead of working to discover what can be known. Stepping back from an issue to phrase it's largest question makes it sound like it's not doable, but the things we know and understand now where once unimaginable. I'd assume there were plenty of folks saying all sorts of things that are mundane today would be impossible in the past.
The intersection between the physical, electrical matrix that is our brain and the final produce, a fully developed consciousness is mysterious. That is exciting. It's a mystery we'll solve with time and data, only to trip over the next mystery that I'm sure will be equally epic.
Time is spent debating what can be known, instead of working to discover what can be known. Stepping back from an issue to phrase it's largest question makes it sound like it's not doable, but the things we know and understand now where once unimaginable. I'd assume there were plenty of folks saying all sorts of things that are mundane today would be impossible in the past.
The intersection between the physical, electrical matrix that is our brain and the final produce, a fully developed consciousness is mysterious. That is exciting. It's a mystery we'll solve with time and data, only to trip over the next mystery that I'm sure will be equally epic.
September 2, 2020
Consciousness and Its Implications by Daniel N. Robinson is a concept dense and challenging dive into what consciousness is, and what it means to be a sentient being. There are twelve lectures that are each 40 minutes long. The lecture are: Zombies, Self Consciousness, the Problem of Consciousness, the Explanatory Gap, Mental Causation, Other Minds, Physicalism Refined, Consciousness and Physics, Qualia and the Mary Problem, Do Computers Play Chess?, Autism, Obsession and Compulsion and finally, Consciousness and the End of Mental Life. He introduces different philosophers who underscore his ideas through out the lectures. Most interesting are the lectures about the Explanatory Gap which asserts that consciousness resists location within a physical domain and if it could be fully explained we would be able to move consciousness from a liminal location to another physical domain. It is worthwhile to download the pdf of the lectures for further study as the concepts are deep and elusive yet provide exercise for agile, curious minds.
February 5, 2016
There doesn't seem to be any structure to the course, it's more of a sampling of different themes/ideas/experiments in the problem of consciousness. My impression is that, keeping the first lesson first and the last lesson last, you could go through all other lessons randomly. It is clearly beneath his two other courses: The Great Ideas of Philosophy and The Great Ideas of Psychology (I speak only of what I know). Despite all that, it is still worth a try if you like Daniel N. Robinson's style (some of his favorite quotes make a comeback), there is still humor and compassion in his tone and the final lesson is a beautifully crafted speech.
April 16, 2014
A great course that make one think. It really could have been more complete with other philosophical and religious perspectives in addition to the things he mentioned in the lecture. Nevertheless, it was very thought provoking and it brings one to contemplate the nature of humanity and life in general and thoughtful musing on mortality and birth. The human condition is intrinsically interwoven throughout these subject and the course therefore enhances one's perspective on humanity. I highly recommend this to anyone searing to better understand the human condition, life in general and it's meaning, religion, etc...
April 11, 2014
Not rigorous enough.
September 28, 2015
Outstanding! Another great course from The Teaching Company. Professor Robinson is simply the best!
The seventy-seventh (albeit "on tape") that I have finished this year.
The seventy-seventh (albeit "on tape") that I have finished this year.
February 22, 2023
TO ME, there are so many exceedingly more interesting facets of consciousness than the three first chapters on basic background concepts. It was okay for listening whilst doing laundry but did not capture my attention beyond that. If you're interested in the basic philosophy behind this, go for it! If you're mesmerised by more scientific explanations I recommend Susan Blackmore (e.g., Conversations on Consciousness). I did like the last two chapters on slightly more clinical aspects, though I missed perspectives from altered states of consciousness in medicine (e.g., anaesthesia), psychedelic research (e.g., psylocibin) or clinical psychology (e.g., psychosis). Still, I really appreciate this series of the great courses!
October 17, 2023
Not my favorite.
The good: interesting topic, some of the lectures are very thought provoking, fairly short set of lectures.
Neutral: professor sounds like an amalgamation of every professor I've ever heard.
Negatives: The first and final two lectures are problematic at best. I won't get into specifics other than to say for the last two either the information is dated (likely) or the lecturer just flat out doesn't know what he is talking about. And the first one he talks like he has never seen a zombie movie and looked up his references off IMDb or an encyclopedia.
Id give this a pass unless you are really into philosophy. (I am) so I enjoyed a fairly significant portion of this but because of 3 of the 12 classes i mentioned above I give it 2 stars.
The good: interesting topic, some of the lectures are very thought provoking, fairly short set of lectures.
Neutral: professor sounds like an amalgamation of every professor I've ever heard.
Negatives: The first and final two lectures are problematic at best. I won't get into specifics other than to say for the last two either the information is dated (likely) or the lecturer just flat out doesn't know what he is talking about. And the first one he talks like he has never seen a zombie movie and looked up his references off IMDb or an encyclopedia.
Id give this a pass unless you are really into philosophy. (I am) so I enjoyed a fairly significant portion of this but because of 3 of the 12 classes i mentioned above I give it 2 stars.
January 17, 2021
This is a lecture that makes one think. What a complex and fascinating topic!
July 10, 2021
I really ought to take a course in philosophy to better understand Robinson's work.
September 11, 2021
DNF. The first few lectures at least were utterly void of insight, so I gave up.
August 25, 2022
Are you conscious? Maube.
December 7, 2022
Some segments were certainly beyond my understanding but that was not the fault of the author.
July 27, 2023
5 stars because it made me think and isn’t that exactly the point of philosophy?
June 3, 2024
After having listened to Philosophy of Mind: Brains, Consciousness, and Thinking Machines a while ago, this course feels too short, but it is a good introduction to the subject.
September 6, 2024
Preferred Consciousness VSI by Oxford Press for this subject.
February 23, 2026
More awe please.
May 7, 2018
4.5/5.
What do zombies, quantum physics, and autism all have in common? They all pose interesting challenges to the idea of consciousness. If a computer can calculate 200 million chess moves per second, and a chess master about 3, and yet the computer struggles to beat the chess master, what is the computer doing differently? Is it ‘thinking’, as we think of the word?
I enjoyed Robinson’s take on the problem of consciousness and his accumulation of relevant opinions from important thinkers. This wasn't easy listening though. At times he rambled, probably because his brain is accessing such a massive storehouse of information. But most of the time he displayed mastery of the topic of consciousness, while able to branch out into neuroscience, physics, law, computation, mathematics, and social issues, without missing a beat.
I particularly enjoyed his tactful and humane treatment of issues related to PVS (I get the sense that all his philosophical studies have actually made him a pretty warmhearted guy). I’d like to hear more of his thoughts on Physicalism (as opposed to Dualism or other ontologies). I haven’t heard any good explanations yet for Dualism that don’t sound like Descartes' wishful thinking for a gland that connects to the soulish realm. Also, Supervenience is interesting and I think has good explanatory power for the emergence of consciousness. I’m listing these here so I can come back later and explore them more.
Sometimes I got the feeling that Robinson wants to take a ‘common sense’ approach, but is learned enough to know that that has poor epistemological grounds. Some of the issues he raises (such as the “Mary Problem”) are problems of semantics and equivocation. Some can be solved by modern statistics research, such as the difficulty of two thinking beings having shared information and finding common ground for beginning communication (i.e., given enough encounters, chance alone can produce these kinds of results).
All in all, these 12 lectures were a worthy introduction into a weighty and thorny topic that nevertheless pertains to us all, until we fall asleep again and happily surrender our consciousness for a time. I’m looking forward to going deeper.
What do zombies, quantum physics, and autism all have in common? They all pose interesting challenges to the idea of consciousness. If a computer can calculate 200 million chess moves per second, and a chess master about 3, and yet the computer struggles to beat the chess master, what is the computer doing differently? Is it ‘thinking’, as we think of the word?
I enjoyed Robinson’s take on the problem of consciousness and his accumulation of relevant opinions from important thinkers. This wasn't easy listening though. At times he rambled, probably because his brain is accessing such a massive storehouse of information. But most of the time he displayed mastery of the topic of consciousness, while able to branch out into neuroscience, physics, law, computation, mathematics, and social issues, without missing a beat.
I particularly enjoyed his tactful and humane treatment of issues related to PVS (I get the sense that all his philosophical studies have actually made him a pretty warmhearted guy). I’d like to hear more of his thoughts on Physicalism (as opposed to Dualism or other ontologies). I haven’t heard any good explanations yet for Dualism that don’t sound like Descartes' wishful thinking for a gland that connects to the soulish realm. Also, Supervenience is interesting and I think has good explanatory power for the emergence of consciousness. I’m listing these here so I can come back later and explore them more.
Sometimes I got the feeling that Robinson wants to take a ‘common sense’ approach, but is learned enough to know that that has poor epistemological grounds. Some of the issues he raises (such as the “Mary Problem”) are problems of semantics and equivocation. Some can be solved by modern statistics research, such as the difficulty of two thinking beings having shared information and finding common ground for beginning communication (i.e., given enough encounters, chance alone can produce these kinds of results).
All in all, these 12 lectures were a worthy introduction into a weighty and thorny topic that nevertheless pertains to us all, until we fall asleep again and happily surrender our consciousness for a time. I’m looking forward to going deeper.
July 26, 2016
Along my annual reading challenge I had intent to close physics related reading by something that will smoothly shift me into the next topic, into the neuroscience. I needed concise and rapid shift, thus came my decision to take "Consciousness and Its Implications" from professor Daniel N. Robinson.
I rated it with 3*, and let me clear it why! I've got all I've required. It was rapid, it was concise! But, what I didn't count with - it was irritatingly, fiendishly brilliant. A multiply time I had intent interrupting the lecture (I was so furious), but when I arrived at the limit of my patience professor came up with something I couldn't resist to. Interesting style and interesting experience.
Daniel N. Robinson (born March 9, 1937) is a philosopher who is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a Fellow of the Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University.
Robinson has published in a wide variety of subjects, including moral philosophy, the philosophy of psychology, legal philosophy, the philosophy of the mind, intellectual history, legal history, and the history of psychology. He has held academic positions at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. In addition, he served as the principal consultant to PBS and the BBC for their award-winning series "The Brain" and "The Mind". He is on the Board of Consulting Scholars of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and is a Senior Fellow of BYU's Wheatley Institution. In 2011 he received the Gittler Award from the American Psychological Association for significant contributions to the philosophical foundations of Psychology.
I rated it with 3*, and let me clear it why! I've got all I've required. It was rapid, it was concise! But, what I didn't count with - it was irritatingly, fiendishly brilliant. A multiply time I had intent interrupting the lecture (I was so furious), but when I arrived at the limit of my patience professor came up with something I couldn't resist to. Interesting style and interesting experience.
Daniel N. Robinson (born March 9, 1937) is a philosopher who is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Georgetown University and a Fellow of the Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University.
Robinson has published in a wide variety of subjects, including moral philosophy, the philosophy of psychology, legal philosophy, the philosophy of the mind, intellectual history, legal history, and the history of psychology. He has held academic positions at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. In addition, he served as the principal consultant to PBS and the BBC for their award-winning series "The Brain" and "The Mind". He is on the Board of Consulting Scholars of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and is a Senior Fellow of BYU's Wheatley Institution. In 2011 he received the Gittler Award from the American Psychological Association for significant contributions to the philosophical foundations of Psychology.
March 22, 2013
I have some mixed feelings about this course
The presentation oscillates between just touching upon the surface (e.g. the discussion of the Chinese room) to being just right and even innovative (e.g. the itch twist on Marie's red-color experiment).
There is no specific version of conscious theories defended in these lectures but there are some important missing ideas like Dennett's multiple drafts and HOT theories.
The presentation oscillates between just touching upon the surface (e.g. the discussion of the Chinese room) to being just right and even innovative (e.g. the itch twist on Marie's red-color experiment).
There is no specific version of conscious theories defended in these lectures but there are some important missing ideas like Dennett's multiple drafts and HOT theories.
December 29, 2008
I listened to the first lecture in this course, but didn't feel the desire to wade through the other 11. Not having studied even basic philosophy, I found it too intangible, even irrelevant (and I recognize that the fault here is probably with my lack of knowledge rather than the course). So overall I'd say this one is not for the general public.
Read
August 26, 2016There is no consensus by scientists about how consciousness comes to be. It is certainly related to our physical brain, but it seems to be something more than that. Dr Robinson surveys a number of the current theories about consciousness and the arguments for and against these theories, without coming to a conclusion - great food for thought!
November 16, 2018
Wow, this was pretty hairy, all philosophy--ideas about what consciousness is, followed by reasons that definition just won't work. It was something I needed to concentrate on (rather that listen to while driving) to really understand it. But that was okay. I got the gist, which is (spoiler alert) that no one has yet come up with a way to define consciousness.
October 27, 2015
Great course from one of my favorite teachers. Only knocked down a star due to the extreme complexity of some of the concepts... which is normal for this subject... but was especially tricky in audio format.
September 10, 2022
This was among my final books at Rochester before I returned to Kuwait to look for a solution to my heart disease. I am really happy that those days are over. I will forever remember this book with bitter sweetness.
January 30, 2016
4/5
Interesting enough, and the lecturer souns like someone i'd like to learn from in person.
Interesting enough, and the lecturer souns like someone i'd like to learn from in person.
January 13, 2017
A good overview of the current state of philosophy of mind, but nothing more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews