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SUMMARY:The Invention of Consciousness - Professor Nick Humphrey\, Darwin 
 College\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20160429T153000Z
DTEND:20160429T170000Z
UID:TALK65408@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Louise White
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: In English we use the word "invention" in two ways. 
 First\, to\nmean a new device or process developed by experimentation\, an
 d designed to\nfulfill a practical goal. Second\, to mean a mental fabrica
 tion\, especially a\nfalsehood\, developed by art\, and designed to please
  or persuade. In this\ntalk I'll argue that human consciousness is an inve
 ntion in both respects.\nFirst\, it is a cognitive faculty\, evolved by na
 tural selection\, designed to\nhelp us make sense of ourselves and our sur
 roundings. But then\, second\, it\nis a fantasy\, conjured up by the brain
 \, designed to change the value we\nplace on our existence.\n\nBio: Nick H
 umphrey is a theoretical psychologist who has migrated from\nneurophysiolo
 gy\, through animal behaviour to evolutionary psychology and the\nstudy of
  consciousness. He did research  on  mountain gorillas with Dian\nFossey i
 n Rwanda\, he was the first to demonstrate the existence of\n"blindsight" 
 after brain damage in monkeys\, he proposed the celebrated\ntheory of the 
 "social function of intellect"\, and he has recently explained\nthe evolut
 ionary basis of the placebo effect. His eight books include\nConsciousness
  Regained\, A History of the Mind\, Leaps of Faith and Soul Dust.\nHe won 
 the 2015 International Mind and Brain Prize.\n
LOCATION:Ground Floor Lecture Theatre\, Department of Psychology
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