Organized by Dr. Angelica Kaufmann and Dr. John Sykes
Weekly meetings will take place on Zoom on Thursday 8:30 – 11 a.m. (US Central Time) beginning on July 9, 2026. There will be at least 6 seminar sessions.
Content
Consciousness is one of the most familiar and yet most puzzling aspects of human life. We may experience our consciousness whenever we become aware of how we perceive the world, feel our bodies, act, remember, imagine, reflect on ourselves, or relate to others, and especially when our orientation does not run as usual. Whenever new decisions are needed, conscious thinking sets in. And yet, it is unclear what consciousness in itself is and to what extent it “exists.”
This seminar explores consciousness not as an objective entity, but by means of how we experience it in its various dimensions of human orientation. After engaging with classic texts on consciousness, such as Thomas Nagel and David Chalmers, we will focus on contemporary research via the perspectives of time and space, bodily awareness, action, the self, metacognition, social relations, as well as the altered states of consciousness and meditation. Proceeding from the philosophy of orientation, each topic will connect philosophical with current scientific research.
This seminar is discussion-based; this means that participants are expected to read the assigned passages before the sessions. The seminar is free, but seats may be limited. Please apply by July 2, 2026, via the application form below by briefly explaining 1.) your affiliation and professional/academic background, 2.) your philosophical interests, and 3.) your motivation for joining the seminar (max. 50 words per field).