David Chalmers

Abstract

In this interview, David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and co-director of the center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at New York University, and Professor of Philosophy at Australian National University, discusses his criminal ancestry, growing up in Australia, what music looked like when he was a kid (he used to be a music-color synesthete), programming computers with punch cards in high school, korfball, majoring in math, developing an interest in Asian Philosophy and consciousness, being encouraged to study philosophy formally, delving into philosophy of mind and whipping up his grad school writing sample (in which he argues zombies are impossible), moving to Indiana and working with Doug Hofstadter, writing his dissertation which would eventually become The Conscious Mind, writer’s block, ultimate Frisbee, the relationship between luck, success, fame, and privilege in academia, landing his first job and teaching in a pleasant alternate dimension (Santa Cruz), moving to Arizona where he helped create and directed the Center of Consciousness Studies, the origin of PhilPapers, PhilJobs, PhilEvents and the future of the PhilX franchise, moving back to Australia and setting up a second consciousness research center, working at NYU and improving the atmosphere for graduate students there, the strangest thing he’s seen in NYC, the Hudson Valley, philosophy of technology, the effect of treating people we disagree with about diversity issues like cretins, romance in academia, ranking philosophy departments, topical diversity in philosophy, the pros and cons of specialization within philosophy, public philosophy, the role philosophy plays in his personal life, meeting Quine, his photo album of philosophers, conscious machines, leather jackets, Ziggy Stardust, Thelma and Louise, and his last meal...