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Almost exactly five years ago, I wrote an essay exploring the question of what new structures AI research needs beyond mere data accumulation. Since many of these fundamental system-theoretical theses are more relevant today than ever, and modern research is shifting toward hybrid, neurosymbolic approaches and neuromorphic hardware, I have thoroughly revised the text and brought it up to date. The result is a sober, critical assessment—somewhere at the intersection of neurophilosophy, cybernetics, and the slightly uncomfortable question of whether we are actually striving for artificial consciousness or merely losing ourselves in an ever-more-perfect anthropomorphic simulation. The updated essay is available online on the philosophies.de blog: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2026/05/28/kuenstliches-bewusstsein/

📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2024/03/12/grenzen_physik_psychologie

🧠🎭 Decoding Consciousness: How the Brain’s Architecture Creates Our Sense of Self A highly complex, self-organized system, a dynamic theatrical stage, and the ultimate question: Can the brain ever fully understand itself? In this issue of Zoomposium, we take a deep dive into neurophilosophy. Our guest this time is none other than the renowned neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Wolf Singer. The thematic focus is on one of the most exciting questions in modern neuroscience: How does the physical architecture of our brain give rise to the elusive phenomenon of consciousness? The focus is on a particularly elegant explanation developed in the 1980s: the “Workplace of Consciousness” theory (Baars). Let’s imagine the cerebral cortex as an extremely distributed system. The individual elements of our experience are widely scattered: visual stimuli in the visual cortex, sounds in the auditory cortex, and complex decisions in the prefrontal cortex. But how do these isolated fragments merge into the single, seamless perception that we experience as our consciousness? The answer lies in a fascinating, fluid dynamic: • The theater metaphor: Consciousness does not reside in a fixed location in the brain. It is constituted only through the temporary and lightning-fast linking of different brain regions as needed. • The Orchestra in Our Heads: In conscious states, a significant increase in certain measures of coherence can be measured. This means that when we consciously perceive something, regions of the cerebral cortex that are far apart suddenly cooperate in perfect synchrony. • A Highly Dynamic Process: This flexible architecture allows our thinking organ to retrieve any content from memory, connect it with other information, and hold it in the spotlight of consciousness for a brief moment. It is precisely this nonlinear dynamic that leads us directly to the great philosophical puzzles we examine in our interview with Wolf Singer: Does this naturalistic approach actually close the notorious “explanatory gap” of philosophy’s “hard problem”? If everything is based on neurophysiological processes, is free will then merely a useful social construct? And could such complex feedback mechanisms perhaps even be replicated “in silicio” in the future as strong artificial intelligence? An absolutely gripping conversation at the intersection of hard science and profound epistemology. 📺 Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/C2FVIbAyaH4 📎 More information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/03/22/kann-das-gehirn-das-gehirn-verstehen/

🚀🔮 The Future of Research: Why the Unanswered Questions Matter Research doesn’t work by looking back, patting ourselves on the back, and telling each other how great science used to be. Of course, the past decades have been successful—particle physics, in particular, has achieved something truly unique over the last 50 years with the Standard Model of the microcosm. But the past is behind us. If we want real progress, we must not engage in backward-looking discussions; instead, we must look ahead—and the future of research lies solely in the unanswered questions. It is precisely this radical shift in thinking that is the focus of our Zoomposium episode. We spoke with Prof. Dr. Thomas Naumann (particle physicist at CERN and DESY) and Dr. Ilja Bohnet (physicist and research officer at the Helmholtz Association) about their new book, “THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE.” What makes their approach unique is that they don’t celebrate the status quo; instead, they deliberately start with the fundamental, unsolved mysteries of modern science. Together, we put science on the proverbial couch and addressed the burning questions that are often conveniently swept under the rug: * Suppressed Problems: Does contemporary science tend to set aside phenomena such as dark matter because they do not seem solvable at the moment? * Beauty as a Measure: Is the cosmos beautiful, and can beauty even be a valid criterion for scientific truth? * Cosmology vs. Metaphysics: Where do we draw the line between cosmology and mathematically inspired metaphysics when theories such as the multiverse or string theory no longer meet Karl Popper’s criterion of falsifiability? * The Mystery of the Mind: Why genuine consciousness absolutely requires a healthy dose of humor, and what role humor plays in the rigors of everyday research. Let’s stop with the self-congratulatory rhetoric. Only those who allow for and endure open questions truly advance our understanding. The full conversation and philosophical deep dive are now available in our Zoomposium! I look forward to your comments! 👇 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/10/26/zoomposium-naumann-bohnet-das-raetselhafte-universum/ 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/k22eSYJgPD0

🏗️⚡ Technology Promotion: Policy vs. Industry Approaches It is not the role of policymakers to mandate specific technologies. Their role is to promote solutions and target values! During the Zoomposium with hydrogen expert Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling (Fraunhofer ISE), the immense challenge of deconstructing and decarbonizing our energy systems becomes clear. A key takeaway: The key lies not in government-mandated technology pathways, but in establishing a smart, technology-neutral framework. The most important key points in focus: • Setting the framework instead of micromanagement: Policymakers should establish guidelines through regulation—whether through consistent CO2 pricing or instruments such as carbon border adjustments. The market and the capital market are smart enough to find the most efficient paths to achieve these goals. • Time is of the essence: If we start pitting different technologies against one another or disparaging them, we lose valuable time. We must move much faster in achieving CO2 reductions—every viable technology is highly welcome. • Complementary partnerships instead of competition: There is no single, standalone solution for the future. The best example: Battery and hydrogen technologies are not mutually exclusive. They are complementary partners in solving the trilemma of environmental sustainability, energy security, and economic viability. If we want to meet our climate goals on time, we need to move away from the political grandstanding of individual technologies and toward a technology-neutral approach that accelerates innovation rather than slowing it down. 💬 What do you think? Should policymakers establish technology-neutral framework conditions and let the market take its course, or is targeted government guidance needed for specific future technologies? Let’s discuss it in the comments! 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/E62Kij5i_Ck 📎Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2024/12/17/wasserstoff-als-loesung/

Is Everything Animated? The Biggest Misconception About Panpsychism 🌀🧠✨ The most common misconception about panpsychism is the idea that all things are animated by little “homunculi”—that is, tiny beings who, like little people, ponder what they’ll do today or whether they woke up too late. But that’s far from the truth! Mentality and mind mean far more than mere, intentional consciousness. Ever since Freud, at the very latest, we’ve known that mental activity isn’t necessarily tied to conscious intentionality, but rather expresses itself at much deeper levels. This is precisely where modern metaphysics comes in: In this episode of our Zoomposium, we have the opportunity to explore these deep levels of the mind with the renowned philosopher Prof. Dr. Godehard Brüntrup, S.J. In the first part of our interview, we discuss the persistent explanatory gap between physical, neural activity and our phenomenal self. Professor Brüntrup explains how modern panpsychism, “liberal naturalism,” and Alfred North Whitehead’s process-oriented philosophy can help us understand consciousness in an entirely new way. In the second part of the conversation, we bridge the gap to a deeply personal and empirical mystery: We discuss Professor Brüntrup’s own near-death experience (NDE) and its philosophical and neuroscientific classification within a naturalistic worldview. The entire two-part interview is now available on our YouTube channel! 👉 Part 1 (starting at 03:37) – The Metaphysics of Consciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoqiI_TElv4#t=03m37s 👉 Part 2 (starting at 49:32) – Near-Death Experiences & Neuroscience Skepticism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoqiI_TElv4#t=49m32s What are your thoughts on panpsychism? Can the mind truly be more fundamental than our classical worldview allows? Share your thoughts in the comments! 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/09/27/metaphysik-des-bewusstseins/

🧠🧪 Brains as Chemical Computers: Why Modern AI Can’t Yet Mimic Our Thinking Are artificial intelligence and the human brain essentially the same thing? Physically speaking, yes—both systems are uncompromisingly bound by the fundamental laws of nature. However, a recent EU-funded study directly comparing natural and artificial intelligence reveals a massive gap: The way our brain processes information differs fundamentally from the most advanced AI of our time. The key difference? The brain is primarily a chemical computer. While digital AI is based on silicon and purely electrical impulses, our thinking—and especially our emotions—is largely governed by complex chemical processes. Chemistry is the cornerstone here. Technological “chemical computers” do not yet exist; it will likely take another 50 to 100 years before we can create them artificially. 🔍 Focus on Neurophilosophy: The Zoomposium with Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth This fascinating biological-chemical nature of thought raises profound neuroscientific and philosophical questions. We explored precisely these questions in an in-depth interview with the renowned neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth. At the center is the fundamental question of the constitution of our consciousness: • The illusion of the “self”: Does Roth’s famous metaphor still hold true today—that our conscious self is merely like a “government spokesperson” who, in hindsight, interprets and legitimizes things whose (biochemical) underpinnings he does not even know? • The “Hard Problem”: How exactly does our subjective experience from a first-person perspective actually arise from purely material chemistry? • Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs): Is it even realistic to translate neural structures into a digital form (“It from Bit”) as long as we cannot technologically replicate the brain’s complex chemical components? The human brain remains the most fascinating system in the known universe—not despite, but precisely because of its highly complex, “wet” biochemistry. 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: If thoughts and feelings are inextricably linked to biochemical processes—can a purely digital, silicon-based AI ever attain true consciousness? Or does the path to true biological intelligence necessarily involve the development of artificial, chemical computers? I look forward to hearing your perspectives and to an exciting debate in the comments! 👇 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2021/12/05/wie-wirklich-ist-bewusstsein/ 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/0LG4gU_jfik

As part of the lecture series “Digital Reality? – Computers as Tools of Knowledge in the Sciences” organized by the Center for Philosophy of Science (ZfW) at the University of Münster, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Grimme spoke on “Computer-Assisted Detection and Research of Disinformation and Automation in Social Media.” The lecture made it clear: Social media are no longer merely platforms for entertainment. They have become spaces for the production of social reality—shaped by algorithms, attention economies, bots, and strategic communication. I found the connection to Michel Foucault’s philosophy particularly fascinating: Whoever determines what becomes visible, which topics receive attention, and which voices fade into the background exercises a subtle form of power. This is precisely why academia should not leave digital spaces to trivialities, outrage mechanisms, or forms of “dark participation.” Amid “waving cats 🐱, makeup tips 💄, and algorithmic constant agitation,” we need more academic presence, more reflection, and more public enlightenment. Perhaps a modern form of enlightenment today consists precisely in making digital dark spaces visible. 🔍 What do you think? Feel free to leave me a comment 👇 https://philosophies.de/index.php/2026/05/22/social-bots-desinformation/ For more information on the lecture series: https://www.uni-muenster.de/Wissenschaftstheorie/ringvorlesung/aktuelleRV.html

• Is John Wheeler right with his concept of a “participatory universe,” in which the observer creates the world in the first place? • Does classical materialism perhaps represent only a small part of true reality, and do we need to understand information as an immaterial building block? • Do we need a completely new metaphysics of time? Look forward to a gripping conversation at the intersection of natural science, philosophy, and scientific humor! 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: If, at the smallest scale, nature only takes on a fixed form through the act of observation—what does that say about the nature of our entire reality? Do we live in a universe that couldn’t exist at all without a consciousness to observe it? I look forward to your comments! 👇 📺 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/V4pUEEtFCUo 📖 More on this topic: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2023/04/16/zoomposium-gerd-gantefoer/

🧠💻 The Big Fallacy: Why Our Brain Is Not a Computer Scientists, engineers, and doctors tend to view biology through the lens of our own machines. Why? Because we humans can understand, program, and manipulate machines. It satisfies our basic need for control. But the popular brain-computer analogy falls completely flat—and competent neuroscience has known this for a long time. The brain does not run on code; it functions fundamentally differently from any computer. 🛠️ The Myth of Hardware and Software With computers, the division of roles is strict: the hardware is the rigid box, the software the flexible program that can be installed at will. With the human brain, this separation is simply impossible: • Permanent physical restructuring: As you read these lines and think about them, your synaptic connections are already changing at this very moment. • Experience is structure: Every action, every sound, and every experience leaves a physical trace. The brain doesn’t just learn like software; it constantly rebuilds itself as “hardware” every second. • No dead shell: A biological organ cannot be frozen and reprogrammed—it is a dynamic, living process. 👥 In Dialogue: The Embodiment Paradigm It is precisely this reductionist perspective—which reduces the mind to mere data and algorithms—that we will be examining in this Zoomposium. Our guest this time is one of the leading international figures in phenomenological anthropology: Prof. Dr. Thomas Fuchs from Heidelberg University Hospital. In his work “In Defense of the Human” and in this interview, he impressively explains why current neuroconstructivism falls short. Consciousness and cognition do not arise in isolation within the “central computer” of the head, but are inseparably bound to our living, sentient bodies (enactivism and embodiment). 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: Why does our tech world cling so stubbornly to the image of the brain as a biological hard drive? Is it the longing for perfect optimization, or are we overlooking the essential qualities that define us as human beings? I look forward to hearing your perspectives in the comments! 👇 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/1ouxs6P3Enc 📎Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/11/20/das-verkoerperte-bewusstsein/

📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2024/03/12/grenzen_physik_psychologie

🧠🌐 Consciousness: The Unity of All Things – Where Does It All Come Together in the Brain? Perhaps the most fascinating phenomenon of our mind is the so-called “unity of consciousness.” Everything we experience in this moment—sounds, colors, memories, and feelings—does not appear to us as isolated fragments, but as one large, interwoven whole. The most intuitive explanation for this is obvious: there must be a supreme center at the top of the brain’s processing hierarchy. A final “control room” where all data streams converge and constitute our sense of self. But does this hierarchical model even correspond to biological reality? This is precisely where our Zoomposium with renowned neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Wolf Singer begins. Under the title “Can the Brain Understand the Brain?”, we question the classical notions of mind and matter. 🗺️ Highlights of the presentation at a glance: • From Center to Network: Instead of a rigid headquarters in the head, Wolf Singer proposes the architecture of the cerebral cortex connectome as a complex, self-organized system with nonlinear dynamics. • The high-dimensional state space: How does a decentralized, dynamic system without a “boss” manage to generate the experienced unity of all things in our consciousness? • The naturalistically closed explanatory gap: Can we resolve the notorious “hard problem of consciousness” (the mystery of the first-person perspective, the self, and qualia) purely through neurophysiology? • Free will or neural determinism? If brain processes are deterministic—how much room is left for freedom and responsibility? And does quantum physics ultimately play a role in the “warm soup” of the thinking organ after all? Conclusion The search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCP) forces us to rethink the brain: away from simple, hierarchical circuits, toward highly complex feedback mechanisms. Whether this architecture is sufficient to crack the riddle of our experience—or whether our own thinking organ remains fundamentally closed off to us—you’ll find out in the full interview. 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: Do you believe that consciousness requires a central “bottleneck” in the brain to simulate the unity of the world, or does this sense arise purely virtually through the global synchronization of decentralized networks? We look forward to your perspectives and comments! 👇 📺 Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/C2FVIbAyaH4 📎 More information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/03/22/kann-das-gehirn-das-gehirn-verstehen/

☀️📐 Solar Intensity & the Solar Constant: Cosmic Power, Calculated with Third-Grade Math How much energy does the Sun send our way every day? The answer is the fundamental basis of our solar technology and surprisingly easy to calculate: Welcome to the world of the solar constant. It describes solar intensity—that is, how many kilowatts of pure energy per square meter strike the Earth’s outer atmosphere. To determine the total power of our home star, no quantum formulas are needed. You mentally draw a sphere with the Earth’s orbital radius around the Sun, relate this sphere’s surface area, and multiply. It’s basically simple multiplication from third grade! 🌌 From the Simple to the Mysterious: Natural Constants Put to the Test But while the solar constant can be calculated wonderfully clearly, with other fundamental values we reach the limits of our understanding. It is precisely this transition that we ventured into in the new Zoomposium. We had the honor of speaking with physicists Prof. Dr. Thomas Naumann (CERN) and Dr. Ilja Bohnet (DESY) about their book “THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE” and dissecting the most burning questions in the natural sciences: • Fine-tuning: Why are the constants of nature so perfectly tuned for life? Are multiverses still cosmology or already metaphysics, defying Karl Popper’s principle of falsifiability? • Beauty & Truth: Is the aesthetic elegance of a mathematical theory (such as string theory) a reliable criterion for its physical correctness? • Science on the Couch: Why does research tend to avoid unsolvable problems, and what role does humor play in everyday research? From the simple rule of three for solar radiation to the multiverse: The universe becomes all the more fascinating the closer we look. 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: The fine-tuning of the constants of nature has baffled scientists for decades. Do you think we will eventually crack these ultimate mysteries purely through physics, or do we inevitably drift into philosophy and metaphysics once we cross a certain threshold? I look forward to your comments! 👇 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/10/26/zoomposium-naumann-bohnet-das-raetselhafte-universum/ 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/k22eSYJgPD0

The event made it clear where modern science is headed: away from isolated disciplines—toward interdisciplinary research spaces where neuroscience, AI, statistics, and theoretical modeling are increasingly converging. This is perhaps one of the most exciting developments in contemporary science. Further information about the event: https://indico.uni-muenster.de/event/4011/ or: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2026/05/18/aim-for-the-brain/

🚛🔥 Hydrogen in Internal Combustion Engines: The Game-Changer for Heavy-Duty Mobility? When we think of hydrogen in transportation, most people immediately think of fuel cells. But in logistics and heavy-duty mobility, a very different, pragmatic revolution is currently making its way onto the roads: Hydrogen directly in the internal combustion engine! What was long considered a theoretical niche is now being brought onto the road in significant numbers. What makes this technology special is that it not only works in new vehicles but is also ideally suited for retrofitting—that is, converting existing truck fleets. Instead of completely scrapping existing vehicles or relying on extremely heavy batteries, the proven principle of the internal combustion engine is utilized. Only now it’s clean and sustainable. 🌐 The Big Picture: The Solution to the Energy Trilemma? This development in the truck sector is a perfect real-world example of a much larger, global challenge. In our Zoomposium, we discussed exactly this with a leading expert: Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Director of International Affairs at the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Together, we dissected the so-called energy trilemma: How do we strike a balance between environmental sustainability, energy security, and economic viability, while global energy demand is expected to rise by more than a quarter by 2040? Highlights from our Deep Dive: • The energy source of the future: Why green hydrogen is the cornerstone of decarbonization, and what role Power-to-X processes and e-fuels (such as methanol) play in global transportation. • Global Bridges: A look at major projects like the Desertec Foundation—why the technology for solar power and electrolysis is ready in North Africa, but political implementation is still stalling. • Batteries vs. Hydrogen: Where do direct electric applications make sense, and where do they reach their limits (for example, due to raw material availability like lithium)? The hydrogen combustion engine impressively demonstrates that the mobility of the future isn’t just being designed on the drawing board, but is gaining momentum right now through smart, feasible technological updates. 💬 Discussion prompt for the network: Is the hydrogen combustion engine the pragmatic solution for existing transport fleets, or is it ultimately just a transitional technology? How do you assess its economic feasibility? I look forward to your perspectives in the comments! 👇 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/E62Kij5i_Ck 📎Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2024/12/17/wasserstoff-als-loesung/

🧠✨ Consciousness and Structural Realism: Descartes’ Philosophy as a Metaphysical Foundation 🌌 Let’s imagine that the entire physical universe were to suddenly cease to exist. What would remain? René Descartes already recognized in a brilliant thought experiment: The only thing whose solitary existence we can logically conceive of is pure consciousness. While everything material around us could theoretically be a dream or an illusion, psychological experience is absolutely certain. Thus, properties of consciousness are the only qualities that are completely intrinsic—that is, existing in and of themselves—and not relational (based on relationships). It is precisely here that modern philosophy of mind builds a fascinating and highly relevant bridge to structural realism. If modern physics describes the world primarily as a pure network of mathematical relationships (structures), the fundamental question arises: What does this structure actually rest upon? After all, a relation requires relata—fundamental carriers that connect and sustain the network of relationships in the first place. The radical thesis of modern panpsychism: The only thing that could underpin the nature of structures without itself being merely another mathematical structure is the mental. The world, therefore, rests on a mental foundation. As elegantly as this metaphysical solution resolves the ontological puzzle of our description of the world, it poses a radical challenge to cognitive neuroscience. For purely material, brain-centered research, this fundamental role of the mind presents an enormous theoretical conundrum that must first be solved. In our Zoomposium, my colleague Axel Stöcker and I explored precisely these deep waters of metaphysics. We had the great honor and pleasure of speaking with the renowned philosopher Prof. Dr. Godehard Brüntrup SJ (Munich School of Philosophy). The central themes of our two-part interview: • The metaphysics of consciousness: How can the persistent explanatory gap between phenomenal experience and neural activity be bridged by concepts such as liberal naturalism or the process philosophy of Alfred N. Whitehead? • The bridge to structural realism: How is the fundamental assumption justified that consciousness constitutes the inner properties of physical relata? This conversation takes us right to the limits of pure physicalism and invites us to completely rethink the nature of our minds and reality. What do you think? Must the structure of the universe ultimately rest on a mental foundation, or can the world ultimately be explained in purely material and relational terms? I look forward to your perspectives in the comments! 👇 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2022/09/27/metaphysik-des-bewusstseins/ You can find the full interview, including the fascinating segment on near-death research, on our YouTube channel “Zoomposium”. 🎥 Interview: https://youtu.be/hoqiI_TElv4

• The conscious self as interpreter: This ties in with our in-depth interview with the renowned neurobiologist and philosopher Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth. His famous metaphor illustrates this interplay: Our conscious self is like a “government spokesperson” who interprets and legitimizes complex processes that have been prepared unconsciously. Yet it is precisely this conscious attribution that significantly alters how we act in and with the world. The notion that one could simply subtract phenomenal consciousness and human behavior would remain exactly the same ignores the functional necessity of our mind. What do you think? Is consciousness the indispensable guide of our flexible actions, or do we underestimate how much a purely unconscious “machine” could theoretically simulate? I look forward to your perspectives in the comments! 👇 📎 Information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2021/12/05/wie-wirklich-ist-bewusstsein/ 📺 Interview: https://youtu.be/0LG4gU_jfik