‘We were meant to be here.‘Paul Davies, 1998

From Stars to Brains Pathways to consciousness in the natural world A Manning Clark House multidisciplinary conference in honor of Paul Davies 20 - 21 June, 2006 Shine Dome, Australian Academy of Science Gordon Street, Acton, ACT

CONFERENCE RATIONAL

This conference is convened to pay tribute to the work of Paul Davies, following the occasion of his 60th birthday (22.4.2006). Davies’ publications explore pathways starting from the Big Bang, subatomic particles, atoms and molecules, through to the origin of life and intelligence, realms of human consciousness and spiritual dimensions, and leading to the motto ‘We were meant to be here.’ (Davies, 1998). Inherent in human perception is an anthropic self-referential paradox: can the conscious mind explore its own raison d’etre? Has Homo sapiens evolved a level of cerebral sophistication allowing it to resolve the deepest questions in the natural world? Is the Universe ‘biofriendly’, as espoused by George Ellis’ philosophy, or is it indifferent to life? Is this Universe unique among parallel universes and do the initial conditions of the Big Bang contain the blueprint for galaxies, stars, planets and the emergence of life? In Stephen Hawking’s (1988) words, ‘Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?’ Major scientific insights achieved into how the universe behaves leave open questions as to why it behaves the way it does. In a world consisting of a hierarchy of levels, where strands of upward (base-to-top) causality are explained, how can downward (top-tobase) causality be understood? Does consciousness pervade nature in degrees, as required by pantheistic philosophy, or is it restricted to the higher life forms? Does Homo sapiens represent nature’s own intelligent eyes, as expressed in John Wheeler’s U symbol, and how can the reality of Carl Sagan’s perception, ‘starstuff pondering the stars; organised assemblages of ten billion billion billion atoms considering the evolution of atoms’, be comprehended? Where do art and music arise from and what is their value in the process of natural selection? Attempts at tackling such questions need to consider not only the probing capacity of the human brain but also its blind spots, including the denial of realities that contradict consciousness and threaten the survival of the species. Whereas the origins of life and of consciousness remain elusive, their emergence may be traced through exploration of links between natural systems of different scale and complexity. This multidisciplinary conference will examine links between astronomy, planetary science, physical principles and information theory relevant to the evolution of biogenic molecules, and the emergence of living systems - culminating in creative artistic and spiritual expressions of human consciousness.

Andrew Glikson

DAY 1
TUESDAY 20 JUNE, 2006 - NATURE

Session A — From nebula to life. Chair: Duncan Steel

Session B - Early life and perception. Chair: Elizabeth Truswell

Session C - Natural laws and the phenomenon of life. Chair: Paul Davies

17.40 - 18.40 Panel Discussion (Sessions A, B and C)

Conference Dinner: 20 June 2006 at the Hall, University House, ANU starting at 7.30pm
It will be a truly stellar affair, with many of Australia's most eminent scientists and philosophers present. Short after-dinner speeches will be delivered by Professors Paul Davies, George Ellis and Fred Mendelsohn. The food will be good too!
MCH members are welcome to join this special dinner, which will cost $60 per person, drinks at bar prices. Enquiries and Bookings, with payment: Liz Shaw, 6295 1808

DAY 2
WEDNSDAY 21 JUNE, 2006 – CONSCIOUSNESS

9.00	Introduction. Penny Ramsay (Manning Clark House)
9.10	The emerging nature of the mind: intellect, emotions, values. George Ellis (University of Capetown, South Africa)

Session D - Brains to minds. Chair: David Penny

Session E — Imagination and creativity. Chair: Sebastian Clark

COST

Conference (including am/pm teas & lunches) $300
MCH members/ Concessions (including am/pm teas & lunches) $200
Limited full-time student rush (on day/s of conf.) $50
Conference dinner (drinks extra, cash bar) $60

Please include payment with registration.
Payment by cheque or credit card.

REGISTRATION

Please mail, email or fax Registration Form [100 kb] to:

MANNING CLARK HOUSE
PO Box 3096, Manuka ACT 2603, 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest ACT 2603
Phone: 02 6295 1808
Fax:    02 6295 6029
Email: manningclark@ozemail.com.au

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

All enquiries to: Manning Clark House

Conference information available for downloading:
Conference Brochure [290 kb]   Conference Flyer [150 kb]   Registration Form [100 kb]

Story about the conference

SPONSORS

                                                                
Generously sponsored by Australian Academy of Science and Australian National University

 

’We were meant to be here.’ Paul Davies, 1998