The hard problem: Science and Philosophy of the Mind

OPENING REMARKS:

Lucía SALA SILVEIRA,
Executive Director of the José Ortega y Gasset-Gregorio Marañón Foundation (FOM)

Teodoro SÁNCHEZ-ÁVILA,
President of the Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno Foundation

SPEAKERS:

Javier BERNÁCER,
Neuroscientist and philosopher.
Centro Internacional de Neurociencia y Ética (CINET).

Juan ARANA,
Philosopher.
Real Academia de Ciencias Morales y Políticas de Madrid.

Lorena CHANES,
Neuroscientist.
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

CLOSING REMARKS:

Fernando VALLESPÍN OÑA,
Director of Revista de Occidente.

Years ago, David Chalmers coined the term “hard problem” to describe the most persistent question in the philosophy of mind: why does matter give rise to subjective experience? In other words: Why does neural activity not only process information, but it also feels like something? The fact is that neuroscience can explain how the brain sees, remembers or makes decisions. What it cannot explain – yet – is why there is someone in there experiencing it: the gap between physical processes and conscious experience. Organised by the International Centre for Neuroscience and Ethics (CINET) of the Tatiana Foundation, and coordinated by Javier Bernácer, Revista de Occidente brings together in its March issue the most prominent voices in the international debate – Chalmers, Seth, Tononi, Albantakis, Chanes, Chis-Ciure, Arana and Northoff– to map out a divide that philosophy has been trying to bridge for centuries without success. A fascinating exploration that prompts us to reflect on the essence of what it means to be human – a question made all the more pressing by the advent of artificial intelligence: What is consciousness? The issue is rounded off with an essay by Jaime Siles on the poetry of Ana Blandiana, winner of the 2024 Princess of Asturias Award for Literature, and an evocative journey to Sintra in the company of William Beckford, a sentimental patron and visionary writer: written by Iván Moure. The magazine is honoured to have had the opportunity on this occasion to draw on the talent of the great Peridis for the cover illustration, which is appropriately pensive.

The issue is available from upscale bookshops, specialist newsagents and on the Ortega-Marañón Foundation website in print or digital format.