TONIGHT: Philosopher David Chalmers: Where does your mind end and the external world begin?

Tonight, April 17, 7 p.m.
UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307

Should the phone numbers stored in your cell phone count as part of your mind? What about your calculator?

Noted philosopher Dr. David Chalmers is among those who argue for a new understanding of the mind, extending its boundaries to include parts of the external world. As the keynote lecturer for the 4th Annual UAA Philosophy Conference, Chalmers will discuss what is, and what is not, the human mind at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307 this evening, April 17, at 7 p.m. Undergraduate student paper presentations will be on April 18 at 11 a.m. in the Consortium Library, Room 307.

Chalmers is one of the foremost philosophers in the area of philosophy of mind. He is a professor of philosophy and the director of the Center for Consciousness at the Australian National University. Prior to his position there, he was the director of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona.

Chalmers earned his Ph.D. in philosophy and cognitive science at Indiana University Bloomington under, among others, Douglas Hofstadter. He is the author of the widely acclaimed book The Conscious Mind (1996). Chalmers promotes interdisciplinary work on the nature of consciousness, artificial intelligence and computation. He is also known for his philosophical commentary on the movie, The Matrix, including his article in Philosophers Explore the Matrix (2005).

Chalmers's talk will address new insights into his earlier groundbreaking work with Dr. Andy Clark entitled The Extended Mind. The earlier paper challenged basic assumptions about where the boundaries of the mind end and the external world begins. Should a person's digital phone book or the directions she writes down to arrive at a particular location count as part of her mind? Chalmers and Clark originally argued that, in particular cases, "external" objects are coupled with the mind in such a way that they should be considered extensions of the mind itself. This thesis has inspired much debate, and in his talk, Chalmers will assess his work on the extended mind in light of new considerations and evidence.

This conference is hosted by the UAA Philosophy Department and the Philosophy Club. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (907) 786-4677.