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A close-up of a spotted nudibranch with translucent, pointed cerata on a brown underwater branch against a black background, inviting reflection on the intricate nature of consciousness in marine life.
Books
What sea slugs can teach us about the nature of consciousness
In this excerpt from "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin makes the case that neurons reveal how memory, meaning, and even consciousness emerge from the same biological roots in humans, sea slugs, and beyond.
Nikolay Kukushkin
Susan Schneider, in a business suit, smiles at the camera, with a green patterned background behind her.
The Long Game
Why the AI “megasystem problem” needs our attention
A conversation with Dr. Susan Schneider on the AI risks we’re not talking about and why the fixation on AGI is misplaced.
Eric Markowitz
A solitary tree with a red swing hanging from one of its branches, set against a light, textured background, evokes a quiet sense of closure.
Mini Philosophy
The “Closure Machine”: How humans really see the world
When a tree becomes a swing.
Jonny Thomson
Abstract illustration featuring five circles with various designs connected by curved white lines on a purple and blue background, symbolizing science or interconnected concepts.
13.8
6 questions about consciousness with Annaka Harris
A conversation with Annaka Harris on shared perception, experimental science, and why our intuition about consciousness is wrong.
Adam Frank
Five books on consciousness and philosophy are displayed upright in a row against a pale background with abstract black lines.
Books
5 brilliant books on consciousness
These expert-recommended books try to answer the questions of consciousness, from its fundamental nature to its role in human experience and the natural world.
Kevin Dickinson
Three circles show, from left to right, an oyster shell, a Vitruvian-style human figure, and a swirling spiral, linked together on a textured lavender background.
The Past
The philosophers who predicted “ultimate” forms of consciousness
Philosophers once prophesied that evolution would lead to minds far greater — and stranger — than our own.
Thomas Moynihan
Abstract illustration of a human figure with glowing neural-like lines and bright light concentrated around the head, set against a red and orange gradient background.
Thinking
A letter from the editor
Introducing Big Think's Consciousness Issue.
Stephen Johnson
A group of people in ancient attire react to shadows cast on a wall, referencing Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
Thinking
The thought experiments that test your life, not your logic
Why some of philosophy’s strangest scenarios are more than mental games.
Shai Tubali
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