Series 2, Episode 7 - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Prof Katja Valli talks organic consciousness
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In our world of rapidly advancing AI, we are being forced to ask ourselves, “What is consciousness?” Science fiction author Philip K Dick’s book “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, which inspired the Bladerunner films, invites us to consider what it is to have – or to be – an artificial consciousness, and the role that dreams have in shaping that consciousness. Instead of cogito ergo sum – I think therefore I am – will it be ego somniare ergo sum – I dream therefore I am? The Dream Boat podcast is starting an occasional series called “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” to explore these questions, and for this first instalment, Laura and Dave talk to Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Katja Valli about organic consciousness, what it is, and how she studies it.

Photo credit: University of Skövde HR Professor Valli defines consciousness as the ability to have a subjective experience, and asks whether machines can have experiences or are only capable of producing predetermined reactions. Dreams, she says, are an integral part of consciousness. And on the subject of non-human animals, she tells us why we think they dream and why it’s hard to know for sure – but she says it would be presumptuous to assume that only humans are conscious. Along the way, Dave, Laura and Professor Valli talk about theories of dreaming, the evolutionary role of dreaming, and experiments that show the neurological connections between learning, memory and dreams. Professor Valli shares a wonderful and (and frightening!) dream of an old couple and the horrible wartime experiences they survived together. When they discuss it, it turns out there may be a more positive interpretation available. Your dreams are wonderful, too. Send a dream to share as the Dream of the Week or for our Dream Lab episodes via the social and website links below. Katja Valli is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology & Speech-Language Pathology and the University of Turku in Finland, and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Research Group Leader in the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and Philosophy in the School of Bioscience at the University of Skövde in Sweden. Katja’s websites: https://www.utu.fi/en/people/katja-valli) https://www.his.se/en/about-us/staff/katja.valli/) Katja’s Twitter/ X: @KatjaValli   Let us know what you think, and submit a dream for us to explore on the podcast!  Instagram @thedreamboatpodcast) FaceBook @dreamboatpodcast) Twitter @dreamboatpod) DRI website: driccpe.org.uk/contact)  This podcast is a project of the DRI), the centre for dream studies at CCPE), the psychotherapy college overlooking the canals at London’s scenic Little Venice. Remember you can join the DRI for just £30 a year currently to access discounted events, courses, newsletters and join in the conversation about dreams. Go to driccpe.org.uk/sign-up) to join! Keep dreaming, and keep sharing your dreams!   Credits Recorded by Sophie at the Boat Pod https://theboatpod.com)  Edited by James Ede at Be Heard https://beheard.org.uk)  Podcast Artwork Design by Kat Seager Design   Music: Adventures by A Himitsu https://soundcloud.com/a-himitsu)  Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2Pj0MtT) Music released by Argofox https://youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE)  Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8)   #dream #dreams #nightmares #psychology #research #psychotherapy #trauma #treatment #sleep #luciddreaming #transpersonal #science #alchemy #spirituality #jung #lucid #luciddreaming #podcast #philipkdick #androids #AI #artificialintelligence #consciousness #electricsheep