OC ACXLW Sat April 6 Consciousness, Race, and Lived Experience

OC ACXLW Sat April 6 Consciousness, Race, and Lived Experience

Hello Folks!

We are excited to announce the 60th Orange County ACX/​LW meetup, happening this Saturday and most Saturdays after that.

Host: Michael Michalchik

Email: michaelmichalchik@gmail.com (For questions or requests)

Location: 1970 Port Laurent Place, 92660

(949) 375-2045

Date: Saturday, April 6 2024

Time 2 pm

Conversation Starters:

  1. Your Book Review: Consciousness And The Brain: A review of Stanislas Dehaene’s book “Consciousness and the Brain”, which explores the cognitive neuroscience of consciousness. The book discusses the differences between conscious and unconscious processing, the neural signatures of consciousness, and theories of consciousness such as the Global Neuronal Workspace.

Text link: https://​​www.astralcodexten.com/​​p/​​your-book-review-consciousness-and

Audio link: https://​​podcastaddict.com/​​astral-codex-ten-podcast/​​episode/​​139738702

Questions for discussion:

a) According to Dehaene, what are the key differences between conscious and unconscious processing? What can the brain do without consciousness, and what requires consciousness?

b) How does Dehaene’s approach to studying consciousness, which relies on subjective reports, differ from traditional methods in cognitive psychology? What are the strengths and limitations of this approach?

c) The book discusses several theories of consciousness, including the Global Neuronal Workspace, Integrated Information Theory, and the Multiple Drafts Model. How do these theories differ in their explanations of consciousness, and what evidence supports or challenges each theory?

  1. How Should We Think About Race And “Lived Experience”?: An article discussing the complex relationship between race, genetics, and lived experience, using the case of Elizabeth Hoover, a professor who identified as Native American but was later found to have no Native American ancestry.

Text link: https://​www.astralcodexten.com/​p/​how-should-we-think-about-race-and

Audio link: https://​podcastaddict.com/​astral-codex-ten-podcast/​episode/​172964727

Questions for discussion:

a) How does the case of Elizabeth Hoover challenge the idea that race is primarily a matter of “lived experience” rather than genetics? What are the implications of this case for how we define and think about racial identity?

b) The article discusses the potential problems with using genetics as the sole basis for determining racial identity, such as the risk of retroactively invalidating someone’s life experiences and cultural contributions. What are the pros and cons of using genetics, lived experience, or a combination of factors to define race?

c) How might concerns about cultural appropriation, affirmative action, and the preservation of minority cultures influence how communities define and police racial boundaries? What are the potential unintended consequences of these practices, as illustrated by the Elizabeth Hoover case?

Walk & Talk: We usually have an hour-long walk and talk after the meeting starts. Two mini-malls with hot takeout food are readily accessible nearby. Search for Gelson’s or Pavilions in the zip code 92660.

Share a Surprise: Tell the group about something unexpected that changed your perspective on the universe.

Future Direction Ideas: Contribute ideas for the group’s future direction, including topics, meeting types, activities, etc.

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