Christof Koch
Consciousness and Unconscious Zombie Systems
California Institute of Technology:
Half a century ago, many did not think it was possible to understand the secret of life. Then two scientists, Jim Watson and Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA, forever changing biology and the way we view ourselves in the natural order of things. We are now once again facing a similar pursuit in determining the material basis of the conscious mind. Consciousness is one of the major unsolved problem in science today. How do the salty taste and crunchy texture of potato chips, the unmistakable smell of dogs after they have been in the rain, or the awfulness of a throbbing tooth pain, emerge from networks of neurons and their associated synaptic and molecular processes?
I will summarizes what is known about the biology and neurology of consciousness and what is known about rapid, sensory-motor behaviors that do not give rise to conscious behaviors. These so-called zombie agents control the daily ebb and flow of our lives. dedicated to stereotypical tasks, such as shifting the eyes, adjusting the body posture, or positioning the hand. They operate fairly rapidly in the here-and-now. Coming into being by dint of training, each one executes one of the rapid sensory-motor skills alluded to above. But none give directly rise to consciousness. Such non-conscious behaviors force us to examine the benefits of consciousness. Why isn't the brain just a bunch of specialized zombie agents? Since they work effortlessly and rapidly, why is consciousness needed at all? I will conclude by discussing the limitations of a scientific approach to consciousness and some of its ethical implications.
Christof Koch was born in 1956 in the American Midwest. He grew up in Holland, Germany, Canada, and Morocco, where he graduated from the Lycèe Descartes in 1974. He studied Physics and Philosophy at the University of Tübingen in Germany and was awarded his Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1982.
After four years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Koch joined Caltech in 1986, where he is the Lois and Victor Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology. He lives with his family in Pasadena, and loves to run and to climb.
The author of three hundred scientific papers and journal articles, and several books, Dr. Koch studies the biophysics of computation, and the neuronal basis of visual perception, attention, and consciousness. Together with Francis Crick, he is one of the pioneers of the neurobiological approach to consciousness.
Born in 1956 in the American Midwest, Christof Koch grew up in Holland, Germany, Canada, and Morocco, where he graduated from the Lycèe Descartes in 1974. He studied Physics and Philosophy at the University of Tübingen in Germany and was awarded his Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1982.
After four years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Koch joined Caltech in 1986, where he is the Lois and Victor Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology. He lives with his family in Pasadena, and loves to run and to climb.
The author of three hundred scientific papers and journal articles, and several books, Dr. Koch studies the biophysics of computation, and the neuronal basis of visual perception, attention, and consciousness. Together with Francis Crick, he is one of the pioneers of the neurobiological approach to consciousness.
Bibliography
Koch, C. The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach. Roberts & Publishers, Denver, Colorado, 2004. (www.questforconsciousness.com)