#thomasmetzinger

What is the “I”—and could a machine one day develop its own? In the second part of the conversation with Thomas Metzinger, the self-model theory of subjectivity takes center stage: What we experience as the “I” is not a fixed entity, but a dynamic, transparent model that our brain continuously generates. The crucial question is therefore: 👉 If our self is a model—could artificial intelligence also develop such a model? Current developments such as neuromorphic systems, deep learning, or biologically inspired neural networks raise precisely this question anew. Metzinger remains cautious, but considers artificial consciousness possible in principle—with far-reaching consequences for science, ethics, and society. Yet the conversation goes beyond technology and becomes more fundamental: How does this knowledge change our self-understanding? What does it mean when scientific findings increasingly demystify our image of the “self”? Metzinger therefore advocates for the development of a new culture of consciousness—a reflective attitude toward one’s own experience, mental suffering, and the technological possibilities of the future. Between demystification and responsibility, a new horizon emerges: 👉 Consciousness is not merely a subject of research—it is a central challenge of our time. 📎More information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2026/03/15/selbstmodelle-metzinger/ 🎥 Watch Part 2: https://youtu.be/Ibf2mrZ3uzM

How can what we experience be scientifically captured at all? This is precisely the question addressed by the Zoom Symposium with Thomas Metzinger—one of the most influential philosophers of consciousness of our time. The focus is on the challenge of not only describing phenomenal experience—that is, subjective experience from the first-person perspective—but also translating it into formal, testable models. Metzinger advocates combining classical phenomenology with empirical research—an approach that is gaining increasing prominence under the term “computational phenomenology.” Particularly fascinating in this context are states of minimal phenomenal experience (MPE): forms of consciousness that do not rely on a distinct “I” narrative and yet enable a pure “being present.” Could such states be the key to understanding the fundamental structures of consciousness? But the conversation goes even further—toward one of the most pressing questions of our time: 👉 Can artificial consciousness emerge—and if so, what does that mean ethically? With his concept of Synthetic Phenomenology and his warning against Artificial Suffering, Metzinger draws attention to an often-overlooked risk: It is not just intelligence, but consciousness itself that could pose a moral challenge—especially if artificial systems were capable of experiencing suffering. This shifts the focus of the debate: The central question in AI ethics is no longer just what machines can do, but what they might experience. 🎥 Watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/bn9m2CRot-Y 📎More information: https://philosophies.de/index.php/2026/03/15/selbstmodelle-metzinger/