Michael Pollan: What is Consciousness? | Reading and conversation with journalist Michael Pollan, cognitive philosopher Marc Slors and neuroscientist Jolien Francken

Announcement

What is consciousness? How do our feelings, thoughts, and experiences arise? Consciousness is where our sense of ‘self’ resides, yet it remains one of the greatest mysteries. In his new book, the renowned journalist and bestselling author Michael Pollan examines the question of how the elusive phenomenon of consciousness can be investigated in a scientifically rigorous manner. He turns to a wide range of disciplines: neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality. Come listen to journalist Michael Pollan, who joins cognitive philosopher Marc Slors and neuroscientist Jolien Francken in a search for consciousness: what is it, who has it, and why.

Watch this video in which Michael Pollan introduces himself.

Neuroscience

When neuroscientists began studying consciousness, they asked how the spongy grey matter in our heads could give rise to subjective experience. In his new book A World Appears: A Journey Through the Subconscious, Pollan explores less materialistic theories of consciousness. He looks at scientists searching for signs of consciousness in plants and AI, and he consults psychologists and writers who attempt to capture our slippery sense of awareness in words.

Michael Pollan reads from his new book, after which he engages in a conversation with cognitive philosopher Marc Slors and neuroscientist Jolien Francken. The discussion will be moderated by Cees Leijenhorst.

The lecture will be in English.

See also on Netflix

Michael Pollan How to Change Your Mind

Michael Pollan Cooked 

About the speakers

Michael Pollan is a professor of Journalism and a well‑known journalist. He writes about food, psychedelics, and consciousness. His books — including The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and A World Appears — are New York Times bestsellers. How to Change Your Mind and Cooked formed the basis for Netflix documentaries. Pollan explores the intersection of humans, nature, and consciousness through multiple disciplines, such as science, literature, philosophy, and spirituality. 

Marc Slors is a cognitive philosopher at Radboud University. His current research focuses on the relationship between cognition and culture. His earlier work addressed the philosophy of neuroscience, free will, social cognition, and the self. Together with Jolien Francken, he wrote Bewustzijn, part of the book series Elementaire Deeltjes.

Jolien Francken is a neuroscientist and cognitive philosopher at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. She previously worked at the Donders Institute and Radboud University. Together with Marc Slors, she wrote Consciousness, part of the book series Elementary Particles. Jolien is Research fellow at NIAS institute of KNAW.

Cees Leijenhorst is a philosopher and Director of Education at Radboud University. He is one of the regular moderators of Radboud Reflects.