What is consciousness? Watch as The Economist asks philosophers and brain scientists.
We've come a long way from René Descartes and "I think, therefore I am" — kind of. "Without consciousness, we have no way of proving we, or anything else, exists," says The Economist, in its exploration of perhaps the core feature of being human. "And yet, what it is and why we have it remain a mystery that some of the greatest minds have been unable to solve." This fascinating look at the various theories doesn't solve it, either, but it provides a good summary of what questions scientists and philosophers are engaging with. "Debate is fierce," The Economist notes, and some experts think consciousness is a mystery humans are incapable of solving. Others disagree. You won't know why you know who you are at the end of this video, but you'll be closer — and you'll probably have a greater appreciation for your limited self-knowledge as well. Peter Weber
The Week
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