Life, Extended Mind, and Fundamental Physics

Duration: 44 mins 35 secs

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Description:	Lecture given by Professor Josephson at an event in celebration of his 70th. birthday (lecture date, May 5th, 2010). Introduction by Prof. Judith Driscoll.

Created:

2010-09-07 13:26

Collection:

Brian Josephson's lecture collection

Publisher:

University of Cambridge

Prof Brian Josephson

Language:

eng (English)

Keywords:

extended mind; life; unification; physics; organisation; chaos; Josephson;

Credits:

Photographer:	(video) Andrew Marin
Editor:	(video editing) Brian Josephson
Producer:	Materials Science (Device Materials Group) Special Seminar


Abstract:	The problem of how life came into existence is a major challenge for biology. I shall argue for an explanation involving the idea that a more elementary form of life, not dependent on matter, existed prior to the big bang, and evolved at the level of ideas in the same way that human societies evolve at the level of ideas. Just as human society discovered how to use matter in a range of technological applications, the hypothesised life before the big bang discovered how to organise energy to make physical universes, and to make fruitful use of the matter available in such universes. In addition, our various creative abilities are in part expressions of aspects of this original life. NB: some historical material not relevant to the lecture as a whole has been removed from the start of both lecture and introduction. *** iPod/Phone/Pad users: to view this video, go to http://downloads.sms.cam.ac.uk/871489/871495.m4v, or click on 'other formats' and use a 'download' link (not 'view').

Abstract:

The problem of how life came into existence is a major challenge for biology. I shall argue for an explanation involving the idea that a more elementary form of life, not dependent on matter, existed prior to the big bang, and evolved at the level of ideas in the same way that human societies evolve at the level of ideas. Just as human society discovered how to use matter in a range of technological applications, the hypothesised life before the big bang discovered how to organise energy to make physical universes, and to make fruitful use of the matter available in such universes. In addition, our various creative abilities are in part expressions of aspects of this original life. NB: some historical material not relevant to the lecture as a whole has been removed from the start of both lecture and introduction.

*** iPod/Phone/Pad users: to view this video, go to http://downloads.sms.cam.ac.uk/871489/871495.m4v, or click on 'other formats' and use a 'download' link (not 'view').

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