Interviews
Prof. Dr. Georg Northoff:
1 You call for or a “Copernican revolution”: not the subject and the thus brain/mind is at the center of our world, but the brain/mind is embedded in the world. What do you mean by this?
2 You argue that the “hard problem of consciousness” is based on Cartesian intuitions. How do you wish to get rid of the hard problem?
3 Whitehead argued that for Kant the world emerges from the subject, and in his own philosophy the subject emerges from the world. Is your theory similar to Whitehead’s view?
4 You have done research on the relationship of cortical mid-line structures and the sense of self. Do you believe that the “self” can be located at specific brain structures?
Prof. Dr. Marya Schechtman:
1 What is the constitution model of personal identity? What are its strengths and limitations?
2 What is the discovery model of personal identity? What are its strengths and limitations?
3 Is there a middle way between the constitution and discovery models of personal identity?
Prof. Dr. Julius Kuhl:
1 Is the subconscious also rational? Is there a rationality in us of which we are not consciously aware?
2 Some philosophers argue, that there is no self. What do you mean by the notion of the self?
3 If there are two kinds of will, namely self-control and self-regulation, does this not lead to the disintegration of the agent?
4 Warum sind Emotionen für unser Erkennen wichtig?
5 Welchen Einfluss hat unser Körper auf unser Denken und Erleben?
6 Künstliche Intelligenz: Braucht jede Form von echter Intelligenz einen biologischen Körper?
Prof. Dr. Mark Solms:
1 The 20th century starts with Freud’s interpretation of dreams and terminates with cognitive neuroscience focusing on the non-conscious. Is there a bridge from Freud to neuroscience?
2 According to your clinical and neuroscientific experience, what are the most important neuro- functional correlates of what we call “self” in psychoanalysis?
3 Sometimes the “deep self” is distinguished from the self. Whereas the “self” might be alienated, the deep self represents what a person truly desires. Does this philosophical distinction make sense to you?
4 Is there a connection between emotions and knowledge? Is knowledge acquisition something entirely rational or are emotions intertwined with it?
5 What do you make of the idea of psychosomatics? Is there a direct influence of bodily states on the way we think and our rational inferences?
6 Artificial intelligence: Does real intelligence require a functioning biological body, or is real intelligence completely independent of biological bodies possible?
Prof. Dr. Achim Stephan:
1 Is there a connection between emotions and knowledge? Is knowledge acquisition something entirely rational or are emotions intertwined with it?
2 Ist das Denken unabhängig von den Emotionen? Behindern die Emotionen das Denken nur? Oder kann man sich auf die Emotionen stützen, können sich Denken und Fühlen durchdringen?
3 Some philosophers have argued that the intellect is the center of the person, others have argued that the will or feelings and emotions are the center of the person. What is your take on that?
4 People often trust their gut feelings. Feelings might be not a reliable guide to truth. Can we really trust our feelings in matters of existential importance?
5 Können wir unseren Emotionen trauen? Sind die Gefühle ein verlässlicher Kompass in Lebensfragen?