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Barry Smith: What is Consciousness Good For?

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What is Consciousness Good For? How much of what we do is driven by the automatic and the unconscious? Science has revealed that a surprising amount of our behaviour is driven by unconscious automatic systems in our brain. In fact, conscious thinking can sometimes get in the way of smooth performance. Barry Smith, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London and Nicholas Shea, Philosophy Professor at King’s College London, present a new research project bringing together philosophy, psychology and neuroscience to explore the purpose of consciousness.

[Video and text source: The RSA YouTube channel]

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