philosophy14.32 min read
Rovelli questions analytic realism, urging a science–philosophy dialogue
24 days ago•Source: IAI TV
Philosophy News
The latest philosophy stories, each synthesized from multiple sources with added background and context.
Featured Philosophy Stories
View original source
14.365 min•1 month ago
We inhabit separate realities, not simply different viewpoints
Steve Fuller argues that breakthroughs in neuroscience, quantum mechanics, and AI show we don’t merely hold different perspectives on one shared reality; we actually inhabit multiple, incommensurable realities that only appear to converge in decisive moments, challenging traditional realism and prompting a rethink of knowledge.
More Top Stories
2
Beginner Mindset: Epictetus on Unlearning What You Think You Know
Space Daily•2 months ago
3
Meta-Evidence Beyond AI: Why Humans Still Signal Quality in Philosophy
Daily Nous•2 months ago
More Philosophy Stories
Cosmic Copernican Principle: Consciousness Might Not Be Earthbound
A new paper by Eric Schwitzgebel and Jeremy Pober argues consciousness could be substrate-flexible, arising in non-Earthly materials, and coins the term Copernican principle of consciousness to challenge Earth-centric views; while it does not prove alien minds exist or silicon minds qualify, it reframes the question as what kinds of systems can wake up at all and notes implications for AI and the search for non-biological minds.
Consciousness Beyond Brains: Minds in Plants and Slime Molds
The piece argues that consciousness may extend beyond brains, challenging the brain-centered view of mind. It highlights research (e.g., MINT Lab) that designs experiments not based on human cognition to distinguish genuine experience from mere reaction, and it discusses the Hard Problem's debates. The author suggests sentience could arise in diverse substrates—plants, slime molds, and other life—not just animals with brains, calling for a broader, less anthropocentric approach to understanding mind.
Berggruen Prize 2025 crowns consciousness-themed AI essays with $50K prizes
The Berggruen Institute announced the winners of the 2025 Berggruen Prize Essay Competition: English-language winner Anil Seth for a critique of conscious AI, and Chinese-language winners Xin Huang and Xiaoben Liu for essays on language, tokens, mind uploading, and a Web4-era consciousness. Each language category receives USD 50,000, with all three winning essays published by Berggruen Press. The competition drew about 3,000 submissions from over 120 countries, selected through blind review; honorable mentions and a slate of shortlisted essays were also recognized and made available online. The essays explore deep questions about consciousness, language, computation, and the future relationship between human and artificial minds.
Rethinking Life and Play: The Impact of Scoring on Happiness
The article discusses philosopher C. Thi Nguyen's book 'The Score,' which argues that scoring systems in games are liberating and foster creativity, whereas institutional metrics like grades and rankings tend to stifle individuality and impose homogenized values, urging us to reconsider how we engage with these systems in our lives.
The Dual Nature of Honor Through History
The article explores the historical and philosophical perspectives on honor and virtue, contrasting Aristotle's emphasis on moral virtues as the path to happiness with the samurai code of bushido, which values loyalty, courage, and honorable death, ultimately suggesting that true virtue aligns with higher divine truths beyond mere honor or power.
Unveiling Pride and Shame's Influence on Human Society
Bernard Mandeville's work explores how pride and shame drive human behavior and social cohesion, revealing that virtues like politeness and chastity are artificial passions rooted in self-love and the desire for recognition, which ultimately contribute to societal welfare through private vices.
Guide to Enjoying Ethically Sourced Pleasure
The article explores the concept of pleasure from a philosophical perspective, emphasizing that pleasure is a natural, evaluative feeling that should not be moralized or seen as vulgar. It distinguishes between the source of pleasure and the experience itself, advocating for a mindful pursuit of diverse, responsible pleasures—both immediate and delayed—to lead a fulfilling and ethically sound life.
The Core Issue in Philosophy's Journal System
In the first half of 2025, a top philosophy journal, The Journal of Philosophy, accepted only one article out of 403 submissions, highlighting a notably low acceptance rate, though the reasons behind this are not definitively explained.
Embracing Boredom: A Philosophical Approach to Digital Minimalism
The article explores how digital overload diminishes our capacity for reflection and depth, drawing on Heidegger's philosophy to argue that embracing boredom and silence can foster authentic thinking and self-awareness, serving as a resistance to the constant stimulation of modern technology.
The Dancing Monk: Embracing Control and Joy in Maturity
Oliver Burkeman explores how accepting human mortality and limits can lead to a more joyful life, advocating for a balanced approach between control and passivity, exemplified by the metaphor of a dancing monk who embraces life's boundaries with joy.