The Nature of Consciousness.
What is the nature of consciousness and what is its relation to the
physical world? In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary
Fruhling and Mike Morrison explore the many ways that the nature of
consciousness is portrayed in Star Trek. Focusing on the "hard
problem" of consciousness (how subjective experience arises out of
physical systems), Zachary and Mike explore different philosophical
theories of consciousness, such as: mind-body dualism, physicalist
theories of consciousness (identity theory, behaviorism,
functionalism, non-reductive physicalism, and emergentism), and the
problem of mental causation. Zachary and Mike also debate forms of
consciousness found uniquely in Star Trek, such as the joint
consciousness of the Trill, the collective consciousness of the
Borg, the consciousness produced by Data's positronic brain, and
the dualist nature of Spock's katra.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 13 (00:01:08)
Winner of the Meta Treks iTunes Review Contest (00:02:54)
The Hard Problem of Consciousness (00:08:14)
Consciousness Stories in Star Trek (00:11:40)
What is it like to be a [fill in the blank]? (00:14:03)
Trill Consciousness (00:22:42)
The Borg and Collective Consciousness (00:29:01)
Mind-Body Dualism and Spock's Katra (00:35:14)
Mental Causation and the Problem of Causal Exclusion
(00:45:03)
Non-Reductive Physicalism (00:50:20)
Identity Theory and Data's Positronic Brain (00:57:21)
Behaviorism and Data's Yellow Tears (01:04:19)
Emergentism (01:14:18)
(Fully) Functionalism (01:16:53)
Final Thoughts (01:23:09)
The Meaning of Life.
Perhaps the most fundamental philosophical question, the most
important question of the human condition, is the question, "What
is the meaning of life?" In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike
Morrison and Zachary Fruhling explore competing philosophical
theories about the meaning of life within the Star Trek universe.
Topics covered include the distinction between universal meaning
and subjective meaning, meaning as progress and the Federation's
progress narrative, colonialism and criticism of the progress
narrative, nihilism and the lack of meaning, existentialism and
self-chosen individual or cultural meaning, theism and religious
meaning, finding meaning in a galactic cultural melting pot, and
new questions of meaning in the 21st century that the upcoming Star
Trek 2017 series might consider.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 12 (00:01:15)
Introducing the Topic (00:03:18)
Two Approaches: Capital-M "Meaning" vs. lowercase-m "meaning"
(00:05:53)
Metanarratives and Peace (00:09:09)
A Crisis of Meaning in Star Trek? (00:13:58)
The Star Trek Answer: Meaning as Progress (00:17:32)
Star Trek Beyond: Colonialism and Criticism of the Progress
Narrative (00:23:21)
Nihilism, Meaninglessness, and Suicide (00:34:06)
Existentialism and Self-Chosen Meaning (00:42:34)
Theism and Religious Meaning (00:47:40)
Meaning in a Cultural Melting Pot (00:53:27)
Meaning in the 21st Century and Star Trek 2017 (00:57:02)
Final Thoughts (01:00:32)
Exocomps and Artificial
Intelligence.
Is it possible for non-biological beings such as androids, robots,
or holograms to think? In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary
Fruhling and Mike Morrison explore the arguments for and against
the possibility of artificial intelligence. Using the TNG episode
"The Quality of Life" as a discussion springboard, Zachary and Mike
cover Alan Turing and the Turing Test for artificial intelligence,
the mind as a digital computer, Turing machines and emulation,
Frank Jackson on qualia and subjective experience, and a
Klingon-inspired retelling of John Searle's famous "Chinese Room"
thought experiment as an objection to the possibility of artificial
intelligence.
Chapters
Welcome to Episode 11 (00:01:05)
Synopsis of "Quality of Life" (00:01:37)
Artificial Intelligence in Star Trek and the Definition of Life
(00:03:40)
Spontaneity and Beards (00:23:51)
Alan Turing and The Turing Test (00:30:06)
Turing Machines and Emulation (00:45:47)
Frank Jackson on Qualia and Subjective Experience (01:03:28)
John Searle and the "Chinese (Klingon) Room" Objection
(01:06:19)
Final Thoughts (01:19:20)