Descartes Lectures 2024

July 29-31 @ MindLabs, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Large Language Models & The Philosophy of Mind

The use and effectiveness of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT-3+, and especially their ability to generate increasingly humanlike outputs, raise a number of pressing philosophical questions.

The 2024 Descartes Lectures focus on how LLMs impact debates in the philosophy of mind. Questions to consider here include: Can language models or their extensions be conscious? Can such model be said to “understand”? Can these systems think, given the (apparent) absence of sensory grounding? Can LLMs extend the human mind, and, if so, how?

By reflecting on these questions, we will not only get a better grip on the capacities of AI systems, but also shed light on more traditional issues in the philosophy of mind.

The 2024 Descartes Lectures will be delivered by Prof. David Chalmers (NYU). Each of Prof. Chalmers’ lectures will be followed by an invited commentary from our panel of commentators, and a workshop on related issues.

Call for Papers

If you are interested in submitting a paper to the workshop or registering to attend the lectures/workshop, please see the CFP & Registration Page for further details!