Where Is the Mind? Bergson, Chalmers, & Clark
Detalles
Is the mind something that happens inside us or is it spread out across time, tools, and the world?
In this session, we’ll bring together two different but connected perspectives:
- Henri Bergson argues that reality—especially time and consciousness—cannot be captured through analysis or concepts. To understand it, we must enter into lived experience itself.
- Andy Clark and David Chalmers challenge the idea that the mind is confined to the brain, suggesting that notebooks, tools, and technologies can literally become part of our thinking.
Together, these readings ask: Is the mind something we have or something we do across time and systems?
We’ll discuss:
- Whether cognition is internal or distributed
- The difference between analyzing experience and living it
- How tools (from notebooks to AI) might extend—or reshape—the mind
- What might be lost when experience is replaced by representation
Readings for this Meetup:
- Henri Bergson - An Introduction to Metaphysics (I'm reading the older translation by Hulme, but there is a newer translation as well)
- Andy Clark and David Chalmers - The Extended Mind (paper available online at JSTOR, etc.)
Approximately 65 pages total depending on edition.
Rules for Our Group
1. Be Courteous
Respectful disagreement is totally acceptable; Condescension is not.
2. Be Concise
Keep comments brief, on topic, and allow space for others to join in.
3. Do the Reading
If you have not done the reading for the week you are welcome to attend and listen to the discussion, but out of respect for those who have read, you will not be permitted to participate in the discussion.
Finally, Please update your RSVP if you are no longer able to attend the event.
- inaccurate RSVPs make it difficult for coordinators to plan successful events
- inaccurate RSVPs prevent waitlisted individuals from attending
*Multiple no shows may result in losing RSVP privileges for future events.
For more info and FAQ on the group click here.
Looking forward to the discussion.
- Brent
