Buddhist Perspectives on Consciousness, Evolution and AI
November 17-19, 2023 – Villa Selvatico, Padua (Italy)
An international symposium to explore the possible connections between Buddhist contemplative traditions, evolution, and technological advances.
The international symposium included two days of closed-door sessions following its public opening event. The event brought together thirteen international experts from diverse fields – philosophy, cognitive science, Buddhist studies, ethics, and artificial intelligence – to offer an interdisciplinary and creative approach to the major challenges posed by contemporary scientific and digital developments, focusing on three main themes:
Consciousness and Ethics: Starting from the Buddhist perspective, the discussions emphasized the importance of approaches to the study of consciousness that go beyond objective description and consider its ethical and transformative implications.
Evolution and Possible Futures: Evolutionary scenarios were discussed that integrate an interdependent view of the relationship among living beings, cultures, and environments (physical and digital).
Digital Technologies and AI: The impact of intelligent systems on society was analyzed, highlighting the need for ethical, mindful, and relational development of emerging technologies.
The event was held at Villa Selvatico, a historic Venetian residence located in the Euganean Hills Regional Park, offering a particularly inspiring setting for a vibrant dialogue between an ancient tradition and future issues.
Project Coordinator:
Peter D. Hershock (East-West Center – Director of the Asian Studies Development Program; Coordinator of the Humane AI Initiative).
Speakers:
Martin T. Adam, Gunter Bombaerts, Charles A. Goodman, Soraj Hongladarom, James J. Hughes, Jenny Hung, Shi Juewei, Jeanne Lim, Chiara Mascarello, Beverley F. McGuire, Stuart R. Sarbacker, and Francesco Tormen.
Project Phases:
Following the public event on November 17, the symposium continued with two closed-door days (November 18-19), during which the group of experts deepened the discussion and initiated a collaborative reflection process.
The project’s outcomes include an edited volume which will be published soon and a series of video-interviews of the experts who participated in the symposium.
