Consciousness is quantum mechanical | Stuart Hameroff

Consciousness is quantum mechanical | Stuart Hameroff

Author: IAI March 18, 2025 Duration: 30:10

Consciousness is one of the most fundamental aspects of our existence, but it remains barely understood, even defined. Across the world scholars of many disciplines - philosophy, science, social science, theology - are joined on a quest to understand this phenomenon.

Tune into one of the more original and controversial thinkers at the forefront of consciousness research, Stuart Hameroff, as he presents his ideas. Hameroff is an anaesthesiologist who, alongside Roger Penrose, proposes that the source of consciousness is structural, produced from a certain shape in our brain. He expands on this, and much more (such as evolution), in this talk. Have a listen!


To witness such topics discussed live buy tickets for our upcoming festival: https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/

And visit our website for many more articles, videos, and podcasts like this one: https://iai.tv/

You can find everything we referenced here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes


And don't hesitate to email us at podcast@iai.tv with your thoughts or questions on the episode! Do you agree with Stuart Hameroff's approach? What are your doubts?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Each week, Philosophy For Our Times opens up a space for genuine conversation, moving beyond headlines to examine the deeper questions shaping our world. Produced by the IAI, this podcast naturally draws on a global roster of philosophers, scientists, and cultural critics who don't just offer answers but engage in substantive debates. You'll hear discussions that feel urgent and relevant, whether they're untangling the ethics of new technology, probing the tensions in contemporary politics, or exploring what art tells us about society. The aim is to apply rigorous thought to the issues that dominate the news and our personal lives, making complex ideas accessible without losing their depth. Tuning into this podcast is like having a front-row seat to the conversations that define our moment, delivered with the clarity and nuance that thoughtful examination requires. It’s a weekly invitation to pause and reflect, using philosophy not as a remote discipline but as a vital tool for understanding.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 545

Philosophy For Our Times
Podcast Episodes
Halloween SPECIAL | The philosophy of the apocalypse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
Why are we fascinated by apocalyptic stories?Join the team at the IAI for a reading of four Halloween-themed articles, written by historian and philosopher Natalie Lawrence, professor of political philosophy Matthew Fest…
The importance of giving up | Adam Phillips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Einstein was called “slow” at school, J. K. Rowling collected a dozen rejections, and Walt Disney was once fired for “lacking imagination.” We love stories of perseverance—but what’s the cost of never letting go? In this…
Slavoj Žižek on philosophy today | The madness of reality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
Slavoj Žižek is back in a new interview where he takes us through his thoughts on the role of philosophy, the future of sex, his fear and love of AI and, as always, so much more. Tune in to hear one of contemporary philo…
How to fathom timelessness | Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:23
What should time mean to us?Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes is a philosopher of mind who specialises in the thought of Alfred North Whitehead, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Benedict de Spinoza, and in fields pertaining to panpsychism a…
The Enlightenment is racist (and why) | Kehinde Andrews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:38
The Enlightenment has faced a lot of criticism in recent years - its defenders and detractors often come head to head, scrambling to articulate its ultimate value or lack thereof to contemporary society. This podcast con…
The unconscious mind: Is the unconscious real? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
The unconscious has become a well-known feature of our human lived experience since Freud. We often refer to unwanted impulses, suppressed thoughts, unconscious desires, and the like.But what IS the unconscious? Is it ju…