Searching for Physical Models of the Evolution of Consciousness

Explore a thought-provoking lecture on the challenges of explaining consciousness within the framework of Darwinian evolution. Delve into the intriguing question posed by William James about the evolutionary advantages of human consciousness, which seems to defy purely materialist explanations. Examine the difficulty in reconciling the development of consciousness with the idea that unconscious zombies or inverted pleasure-pain qualia could theoretically function equally well. Discover toy models presented to illuminate potential alternatives and their explanatory power, while gaining insights into the complexities surrounding the evolution of consciousness from a physical perspective. This talk, delivered by Adrian Kent from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, offers a fascinating exploration of the intersection between physics, evolution, and the nature of consciousness.