Consciousness: The Hard Problem

Most Osher courses are about the subjects we are “conscious” of: Music, Art, Literature, Entertainment, History, Current Events, Science, and so on. But what about consciousness itself? We humans take consciousness for granted. We never stop to wonder what it is and why it exists. And yet, without it our lives would be featureless. Our ears and neurons might respond to beautiful music, but we would not experience it. This course will explore the many aspects that make consciousness such a fascinating subject. We will define what it is, how it differs from cognition, and how it colors every aspect of our lives. We will review what neuroscientists are learning about the parts of the brain that make  consciousness possible. We will recall what the major religions of the world, both eastern and western, say about the subject, and what the great philosophers have said about its significance. And we will review some ideas about consciousness that contemporary scientists and philosophers are pursuing. The course will include simple exercises to illustrate what terms like “inner life” and “theory of mind” mean. There will be plenty of opportunity for students to express their opinions and theories about various aspects of this elusive subject.

Fee Breakdown