Topic

This conference will bring together philosophers and scientists to discuss questions such as: Are invertebrates conscious?  Do fish feel pain? Are non-human mammals self-conscious?  How did consciousness evolve? How does research on animal consciousness affect the ethical treatment of animals?  What is the impact of issues about animal consciousness on theories of consciousness and vice versa?  What are the best methods for assessing consciousness in non-human animals?

Participants
Speakers and panelists will include Colin Allen (Indiana, History and Philosophy of Science), Andrew Barron (Macquarie, Cognitive Neuroethology), Victoria Braithwaite (Penn State, Biology), Peter Carruthers  (Maryland, Philosophy), Marian Stamp Dawkins (Oxford, Zoology), Daniel Dennett (Tufts, Philosophy), David Edelman (San Diego, Neuroscience), Todd Feinberg (Mt. Sinai, Neurology), Peter Godfrey-Smith (Sydney, Philosophy), Lori Gruen (Wesleyan, Philosophy), Brian Hare (Duke, Evolutionary Anthropology), Stevan Harnad (Montreal, Cognitive Science), Eva Jablonka (Tel Aviv, Cohn Institute), Björn Merker (Neuroscience), Diana Reiss (Hunter, Psychology), Peter Singer (Princeton, Philosophy), and Michael Tye (Texas, Philosophy).
Organizers: Ned Block, David Chalmers, Dale Jamieson, Matthew Liao.

Schedule
The conference will run from 9 am on Friday, November 17 to 6 pm on Saturday, November 18 at the NYU Cantor Film Center (36 E 8th St).  The Friday sessions will include “Invertebrates and the evolution of consciousness”, “Do fish feel pain?”, and “Animal consciousness and ethics”.  The Saturday sessions will include “Animal self-consciousness”, “Animal consciousness and theories of consciousness”, and a panel discussion.  A detailed schedule will be circulated closer to the conference date.

Registration is free but required. Register here.