#72 Rethinking Cognition: Posthumanism to Planetary Ecology with Professor Katherine Hayles

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A poetic conversation at the intersection of literature, science, and technology with Katherine Hayles, a distinguished research professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Hayles discusses her ideas from her books 'How We Became Posthuman' and 'Bacteria to AI,' focusing on the need to rethink cognition and decouple it from consciousness. She describes the concept of non-conscious cognition and emphasizes the importance of understanding the integrated cognitive framework, which includes biological organisms, synthetic intelligences, and their symbiotic relationships with humans. The discussion extends to planetary ecology, the risks and potentials of advancing AI, and the overarching need for humanity’s care for the planet and each other.

00:00 What I really meant by posthumanism
00:27 The Concept of Human Transformation
00:54 Scientific and Ecological Perspectives
01:38 The Role of Machines and Symbiosis
02:31 Understanding Synthetic Intelligence
02:52 Widening the Circle of Care
03:40 Introduction to Catherine Hales by philosopher Andrea Hiott
04:01 Catherine Hales' Academic Background
04:19 Books by Catherine Hales
08:30 The Importance of Fiction in Science
09:55 Consciousness vs. Cognition
17:42 The Integrated Cognitive Framework
18:37 Non-Conscious Cognition
33:01 Meaning Making in Organisms
35:28 Understanding Different Umwelts
38:42 Understanding AI's Conceptual Umwelt
40:13 Embodiment and Ontology in AI
45:51 Symbiosis: From Biology to AI
58:08 The Role of Narrative in Science and Literature
01:10:06 Planetary Cognition and Future Challenges
01:18:48 The Importance of Accurate Information and Education

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