There are many interesting thoughts in these clips, imo. Especially about the consciousness. I also liked to see him deal with the common critisism of "The Selfish Gene" book he wrote, which some people say (based on the title) promotes/legitimates selfishness.
The interviewer doesn't seem to know a lot about evolution in the first part, but the second part seems good. And as usual, Dawkins' comments more than make up for what the interviewers might lack.
Conversations with Great Minds with Prof. Richard Dawkins, Pt 1Conversations with Great Minds with Prof. Richard Dawkins, Pt 2Do you think that we will one day make an artificial consciousness? Or that the universe (etc.) has one?
I agree with the thought that consciousness requires a functional equivilent to a brain, a lot of units cooperating in processing information, which the universe doesn't seem to have. I think giant swarms and ant colonies might have consciousness, but it seems very hard to define what it is. It might be a very efficient way for all the small units to process information, perfected by evolution over millions of years, which might be hard to achieve with machines which seem more like mindless slaves obeying our code and not being subject to evolution (they are gradually improved, but still designed every time, and their good qualities are "selected" on completely different qualities than organisms surviving in nature).
Topic: Consciousness etc. (Read 4102 times)
