Professor of Philosophy (Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley, 1997) Areas of interest: philosophy of psychology, philosophy of mind, moral psychology, classical Chinese philosophy, epistemology, metaphilosophy, metaphysics, science fiction Summary Eric Schwitzgebel explores the challenges of attention in the digital age, the cultural influences on morality, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI. The dialogue also delves into simulation theory and the complexity of existence, emphasizing the importance of embracing uncertainty and wonder in our understanding of life. Eric Schwitzgebel and Ryan discuss a range of topics including the Tao of Pooh, skepticism towards paranormal phenomena, the Copernican argument for alien consciousness, the role of death in human creativity, the nature of suffering, ethics in philosophy, and the disconnect between moral beliefs and actions. Eric emphasizes the importance of diverse forms of being and the complexity of human experience, while also recommending influential books and writers that inspire philosophical thought. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Consciousness and Philosophy 02:56 The Intersection of AI and Consciousness 05:56 The Role of Attention and Awareness 08:58 Ethics, Morality, and AI 11:59 Cultural Perspectives on Morality 14:57 Transhumanism and Its Implications 18:02 The Nature of Reality and Simulation Theory 21:08 The Complexity of Existence 24:03 Philosophy of Opening vs. Closing 26:58 Embracing Uncertainty and Wonder 38:31 Exploring the Tao of Pooh and Telepathy 39:23 Skepticism Towards Paranormal Phenomena 41:39 The Copernican Argument for Alien Consciousness 44:39 The Role of Death in Human Creativity 46:59 The Nature of Suffering and Meaning 50:25 Ethics and Moral Behavior in Philosophy 54:01 The Disconnect Between Moral Beliefs and Actions 58:39 Aiming for Moral Mediocrity 01:01:34 Influential Philosophers and Writers 01:05:11 Recommended Reads for the Next Generation 01:08:59 The Nature of Meaning in Life Music for every episode Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic Eric http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/ https://faculty.ucr.edu/~eschwitz/ Connect with Ryan Anderson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/ awonderjunkie.com Breathe4Flow.com Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0 A bit about Ryan Anderson- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bsR23JM4z6p1RPpbv7czC?si=4ba51224cf464e70 Keywords consciousness, philosophy, AI, ethics, morality, transhumanism, simulation theory, attention, awareness, cultural perspectives, Tao of Pooh, telepathy, skepticism, consciousness, death, suffering, ethics, moral behavior, philosophy, recommended books