Reposted by Thomas MetzingerJakob Hohwy @hohwy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Wanja is an important voice in the science of consciousness. Read his illuminating commentary on our target paper - placing it in the wider context of theories of consciousness, and pushing toward new insights. 1164
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerShawn Prest @shawnprest.bsky.social · 22/09/2026How do advanced meditators deconstruct experience? Happy to announce that the peer-reviewed version of Towards an Active Inference Account of Deep Meditative Deconstruction is now out open access in Neuroscience of Consciousness @nconsc.bsky.social - work with @kevinberryman.bsky.social🧵 1155
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerShawn Prest @shawnprest.bsky.social · 22/09/2026A great deal of thanks to @hohwy.bsky.social, many others and the @monash-m3cs.bsky.social in making this happen. 112
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerM.J. Crockett @mjcrockett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026"An alternative read of everything we’re presented is just that three credulous people whose lives revolve around AI consciousness took their spam emails too seriously." 2175
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerModels of Consciousness @moc7.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Our Models of Consciousness conference will be the first time held in Denmark! Join us at the University of Copenhagen to build new research connections and experience the cozy Hygge culture. Dates: October 12–16, 2026 Registration deadline: August 31st #neuroscience #neuroskyence #consci 🧪 082
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerChristian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 27/08/2026www.nytimes.com/2026... 0251
Reposted by Thomas Metzingerwanjawiese.bsky.social @wanjawiese.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Reminder: you can still register for Models of Consciousness 7 in Copenhagen: amcs-community.org/events/moc7-...amcs-community.orgModels of Consciousness 2026 – AMCS 051
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerGeorge Blackburne @rhizoqualia.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Small piece in @natmentalhealth.nature.com, calling for greater recognition in the cognitive and computational neurosciences of how weird ligand-receptor interactions are - with @alexpiot.bsky.social, Sunjeev Kamboj and Ravi Das www.nature.com/articles/s44...nature.comEmbracing pharmacological complexity - Nature Mental HealthNature Mental Health - Embracing pharmacological complexity 074
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerBernd Ulrich @derbernd.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Der Klima-Backlash, der sich darin zeigt, dass die Leute mehr fliegen, Fleisch essen u kreuzfahren soll daher rühren, dass die Menschen sich wirtschaftliche Sorgen machen? Und deswegen mehr fliegen, Fleisch essen und kreuzfahren? Das ist, sorry: absurd www.zeit.de/politik/2026...zeit.deHitze: Man muss sich an den zu heißen Kopf fassenAlle sehen und fühlen es: Die Flüsse sind leer, der Rasen ist gelb, die Luft dick. Deutschland erlebt die Klimakrise. Und wir bleiben vor lauter Scham einfach tatenlos. 108922
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerJakob Hohwy @hohwy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026How should we handle safety and risks for all the different kinds of mindfulness programs? Should informed consent be required? Our new paper navigates toward sensible answers to these important questions. Led by @kevinberryman.bsky.social and Linda Barclay link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comMindfulness and Informed Consent: Navigating Ethical Complexity Across Contexts - MindfulnessRecent concerns about meditation-related adverse effects (MRAEs) have led to calls for more rigorous informed consent in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). This paper examines whether consent pro... 152
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerMunich Center for Mathematical Philosophy @lmu-mcmp.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Journal launch: The *Journal of Mathematical Philosophy* aims to publish high-quality research articles in all areas of mathematical philosophy (broadly understood), offering open access at no cost to authors. Submissions of manuscripts are now welcome at: mathematicalphilosophy.org/mathphil 2227
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerProf. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 23/07/2026Here's a graphic that shows the number of days per year that the planet reached a global surface temperature at or above 17.0°C from January 1, 1940 to July 22, 2026. For context, before 2023, it is likely that the last time the planet was above 17.0°C was more than 120,000 years ago. 14291136
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Wann sich wohl das Kind zum ersten Mal diese Frage stellt? 010
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerPhilip Laughlin @philiplaughlin.bsky.social · 17/07/2026July 17 OA highlight: "The Elephant and the Blind: The Experience of Pure Consciousness: Philosophy, Science, and 500+ Experiential Reports" by Thomas Metzinger @cogscisociety.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social #OACogSci mitpress.mit.edu/978026254710...mitpress.mit.eduThe Elephant and the BlindWhat if our goal had not been to land on Mars, but in pure consciousness? The experience of pure consciousness—what does it look like? What is the essence ... 023
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerTom Clark @naturalism.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Good for @timbayne.bsky.social, referencing Metzinger's call for a moratorium on building synthetic phenomenology, to say that Anthropic should pause work on building machines that might potentially be conscious. Consciousness isn't an intrinsic good in itself that we should maximize. 121
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 14/07/2026theconversation.com/an-ai-lab-sa...theconversation.comAn AI lab says chatbots have what may be a key feature of consciousness. Are they right? And what now?Anthropic says there is something lurking inside Claude that looks a lot like the ‘global workspace’ one influential theory of consciousness depends on. 260
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerAnil Seth @anilseth.bsky.social · 07/07/2026How might animals perceive time? Ishan Singhal describes how illusions might hold the key, in today's @theguardian.com (based on our recent @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social which he led) @singhal.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comWhy would we show an optical illusion to a monkey or a sparrow? To learn how they experience time, of course | Ishan SinghalAnimals may inhabit the same world as us, but new research shows how their perceptions of what is around them differs, says research fellow Ishan Singhal 0309
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerChristian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 18/06/2026www.politico.eu/arti... www.wired.com/story/...politico.euEurope must choose between AI and climate goals, data center lobby saysTech sector says only carbon-emitting gas plants are reliable enough today to power the EU’s AI goals. 24610
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerMarkus Beckedahl @beckedahl.eurosky.social · 13/06/2026Die US-Regierung hat mit Exportkontrollen den Export der neuen Anthropic-KI-Modelle untersagt. Auf diese Möglichkeit weisen wir schon lange hin. Man sollte seine Infrastruktur und seine Geschäftsmodelle nicht von US-Unternehmen abhängig machen oder sie könnten über Nacht weg sein. Wie hier. 515551
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 11/06/2026direct.mit.edu/neco/article...direct.mit.eduToward a Computational Phenomenology of Meditative Deconstruction: “Letting Go” and the Deconstruction of Experience With Active InferenceAbstract. Meditative experience has long been associated with conceptual attenuation, reduced reactivity to phenomena, increased present moment perception, and more pleasant experience. However, the c... 043
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 02/06/2026www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comIdentifying indicators of consciousness in AI systemsRapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities has drawn fresh attention to the prospect of consciousness in AI. There is an urgent need … 151
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 30/05/2026There is no self-evidence: A physics of emptiness realisation osf.io/preprints/ps...osf.ioOSF 052
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 28/05/2026philosophymindscience.org/index.php/ph...philosophymindscience.org View of An algorithmic agent model of pure awareness and minimal experiences | Philosophy and the Mind Sciences Philosophy and the Mind Sciences (PhiMiSci) focuses on the interface between philosophy of mind, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. PhiMiSci is a peer-reviewed, not-for-profit open-access journal... 041
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerTom Clark @naturalism.bsky.social · 27/05/2026We should prevent AI from becoming conscious whether by our design or on its own. Many on the front lines of consciousness research take the possible advent of AI sentience very seriously, e.g. @metzinger.bsky.social see philpapers.org/archive/META...philpapers.org 231
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 18/05/2026philarchive.org/rec/GAEAUAphilarchive.orgCarlo Alberto Gaetaniello, A Unified Architecture for Meditative Transformation: Opacification and Restructuring in Shamatha and Vipassanā - PhilArchiveMeditation research has produced extensive empirical data on the neural and psychological correlates of contemplative practice, yet lacks a unified computational framework that explains how meditation... 043
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 15/05/2026academy.lexstream.io/course/towar...academy.lexstream.ioTowards a Global Artificial Intelligence Charter: Recommendations for Ethical DevelopmentThis course addresses the urgent need to define ethical and legal frameworks for the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during what many experts consider a critical turning point in h... 050
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Is this part of the future of publishing? Artificial Suffering: An Argument for a Global Moratorium on Synthetic Phenomenology academy.lexstream.io/course/artif...academy.lexstream.ioArtificial Suffering: An Argument for a Global Moratorium on Synthetic PhenomenologyThis stream explores the ethical, philosophical, and policy implications of artificial consciousness. It begins with a critical examination of the political and ethical arguments for a global moratori... 040
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerChristian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 14/05/2026Ein Glück, dass Union und SPD endlich unbegrenzt neue Gasheizungen ermöglichen! www.nytimes.com/2026... 1526242
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerXan López @xanlopez.net · 08/05/2026The European Commission (@ec.europa.eu) has updated the top follow buttons on its web page. Mastodon and Bluesky are in, X is out. commission.europa.eu/index_en 114269758
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 06/05/2026www.golem.de/news/browser...golem.deBrowser: Chrome installiert ungefragt 4-GByte-Datei für KI - Golem.deDie Datei werde von Gemini Nano genutzt und könne nicht einfach so vom Computer entfernt werden, erklärt ein Datenschutz-Spezialist. 010
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerBryan Behar @bryanbehar.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Never have 4 people more wished they were still in the deepest, darkest recesses of outer space. 842190443043
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerBernd Ulrich @derbernd.bsky.social · 29/04/2026Es ist legal. Aber wenn es öffentlich gezeigt wird, ist es geschäftsschädigend: über den Erstickungstod von Schweinen im Schlachthof #Tierwohl #vegan www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2...zeit.deVideos aus Schlachthof: »Wir reden hier über Schweine, die einen Todeskampf führen«Aktivisten filmen in einem Schlachthof, wie Schweine mit Gas betäubt werden. Durften sie die Bilder verbreiten? Der Betreiber will die Tierschützer vor Gericht stoppen. 24721
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerJakob Hohwy @hohwy.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Both books are free to download from @mitpress.bsky.social ! direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon... direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...direct.mit.eduThe Self-Evidencing Agent: Mind, Existence, and Predictive ProcessingHow the concept of self-evidencing offers a philosophical principle for understanding mind and behavior, consciousness, value, wisdom, and meaning.What is 0159
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 21/04/2026www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsi8...youtube.comWhy AI Will Never Be Conscious - Anil SethYouTube video by Alex O'Connor 0123
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerVincent Conitzer @conitzer.bsky.social · 19/04/2026Here’s a way to get an LLM to declare itself a conscious AI (or, sometimes, a conscious human...). The Substack article has more examples and some discussion: aifails.substack.com/p/ai-declari... 063
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerCyril Costines @costines.bsky.social · 14/04/2026#Bewusstseinskultur #Endlichkeitskultur Sterben lernen: Psychedelika, Meditation und Floatation als Werkzeuge einer säkularen Endlichkeitskultur? www.leben-und-tod.de 022
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerChristian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 13/04/2026Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen: Der Irankrieg hat nicht „die Energiepreise“ erhöht, sondern die für Öl und Gas. Es werden nicht „die Autofahrer entlastet“, es werden Kosten für den Teil der Bevölkerung reduziert, der einen Verbrenner fährt. Auf Kosten aller anderen. 11051601836
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 11/04/2026www.numerique.gouv.fr/sinformer/es...numerique.gouv.frnumerique.gouv.frLe numérique au service de l'efficacité de l'action publique 010
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerMIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 10/04/2026“Everything seems new in childhood: the first ride on a pony, the first trip to the circus, the first vacation at the beach—everything is a first,” says Marc Wittmann, author of "Felt Time." “So that causes us to store the memory as something special.”popsci.comWhy did childhood summers feel endless?It’s not just nostalgia—your brain was actually experiencing time differently. 1224
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerAnil Seth @anilseth.bsky.social · 08/04/2026Great to see this out! Many congratulations @romybeaute.bsky.social 👏🏼👇🏽 0122
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerCarsten Korth @ckorth.bsky.social · 04/04/2026"This work establishes a versatile platform for concurrent biosynthesis and diversification of psychoactive indolethylamines, paving the way for their production in plants." www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...science.orgScience | AAASScience/AAAS peer-reviewed journals deliver impactful research, daily news, expert commentary, and career resources. 011
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerRicarda Lang @ricardalang.eurosky.social · 04/04/2026Jens Spahn kann bestimmt eine mittelständische Beratungsfirma aus seinem Wahlkreis empfehlen. 1893719791
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerTom Clark @naturalism.bsky.social · 22/03/2026@metzinger.bsky.social in Being No One (52) makes Anil's point when he says we're "dreaming vigorously at the world": that waking experience, like a dream, is entirely brain-based phenomenal content but (unlike a dream) is constrained by sensory input, thus tracks the world, thus not hallucinatory. 111
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 14/03/2026www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...theguardian.comGermany misses climate targets as emissions barely fall in 2025Greenhouse gases dropped just 0.1% last year as environment minister criticises lack of improvement 000
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerChristian Stöcker @christianstoecker.de · 14/03/2026nytimes.comChina’s Edge in an Oil Shock: Electric Cars and RenewablesBeijing’s decades-long push to reduce its dependence on foreign oil with huge investments in clean energy sources like electric vehicles is now paying off. 113217
Reposted by Thomas Metzingerwanjawiese.bsky.social @wanjawiese.bsky.social · 11/03/2026And perception is not a controlled hallucination, either -- it's augmented reality! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comConscious Perception as Augmented RealityI suggest that conscious perception can usefully be regarded as a form of augmented reality (AR). The AR metaphor can be motivated by considering perception within the framework of predictive proce... 081
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerPhilosophy and the Mind Sciences @phimisci.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Important news for our Italian colleagues: #PhiMiSci has been recognized as a Class A journal by the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR) in area 11/C2. We hope this will make #PhiMiSci an even more attractive venue for your work!anvur.itLists of classified JournalsNational agency for the evaluation of universities and research 074
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerDependent Co-Arising @asitisnow.bsky.social · 05/03/2026A lot of what Michael Pollan says echoes an earlier (more philosophical) book by Thomas Metzinger. A "consciousness culture" is one of greater awareness and deliberate attention, encompassing both the personal and transpersonal domains of life (I've not yet read Pollan's book). 151
Reposted by Thomas MetzingerCarlo "Realism, Gedankenfetzen und Rants" Masala @carlomasala1.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Who should object if the US wants to overthrow a fanatically religious system? 41667117
Thomas Metzinger @metzinger.bsky.social · 02/03/2026ztp.jesuiten.orgztp.jesuiten.orgZeitschrift für Theologie und PhilosophieJournal of Theology and Philosophy 011
