AI & consciousness: Persons and programs - what distinguishes them?

Can AI Develop Consciousness? This question is on many people’s minds today — and opinions differ widely.

One reason is that there are many different theories of consciousness.

Even more problematic is that many people make claims about artificial consciousness without even clarifying at all what they think consciousness is.

Or they have vague ideas about what consciousness might be, but no awareness of the relevant philosophical issues involved in this question.

You don’t want to be one of those people, do you? 😄

👉 Then join this course to get philosophical tools that will help you navigate the AI debate like a pro! You will gain more clarity and learn to critically evaluate claims about artificial intelligence.

🤗 No prior knowledge of philosophy or AI is required. Come along and let’s think together!

To give us some orientation, we will read the first chapter from Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Fuchs‘ (University of Heidelberg) book „In Defense of the Human Being: Foundational Questions of an Embodied Anthropology“. Here’s the text:
https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/f/a0375003fb57493e8a43/?dl=1https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/f/a0375003fb57493e8a43/?dl=1

📍Workshops will take place in Heidelberg: Write me to get the exact location.
💻 Online participation possible (hybrid)
💶 This is a paid event. Cost: €15–30 (pay what you choose, cash at the event or transfer)

About the host:
Classes: https://linktr.ee/inspiration_philosophie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_philosophie/
Blog: https://substack.com/@inspirationphilosophy
Research: https://maxrohstock.academia.edu/

Anna Maria Lambertz-Rohstock is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Philosophy at Heidelberg University. She is currently completing her Ph.D. with a dissertation on the fulfilled moment in the Neoplatonic tradition and the existential philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes).
In 2023, she founded the initiative Inspiration Philosophy, for which she received one of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation's Civic Engagement Awards in 2024.

Anna will conduct the workshop in an interactive way, making sure to make it engaging for everyone while also providing some inspiring input.