The Quest to Understand Consciousness

Antonio Damasio

11 a.m., February 23, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we watch and discuss the 18-minute TED talk from March 2011, The Quest to Understand Consciousness by Antonio Damasio.

Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness, but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.

Antonio Damasio’s research in neuroscience has shown that emotions play a central role in social cognition and decision-making. His work has had a major influence on current understanding of the neural systems, which underlie memory, language, consciousness.

Neuroscientist, Antonio Damasio, is the author of Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain, which was adapted into a musical composition performed by Yo-Yo Ma at the American Museum of Natural History.

You can preview this talk at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/antonio_damasio_the_quest_to_understand_consciousness

Attend in Person:
Join fellow Humanists to consider the propositions in Milpitas Library Group Study Room B, 160 N Main St, Milpitas, CA 95035.
Often after our meeting, we find a nearby inexpensive eatery for a luncheon.
If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

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