Partecipants: Emilio Del Giudice, Mauro Bergonzi, Massimo Marraffa, Michele Lucantoni

Thinking about a sort of high road to investigate the phenomenon of consciousness is an enterprise that constraints those willing to face, with reliance, the finitude. The tools of classical science show a natural fragility when approaching a reality that lacks of material precise extents. In this way, the attempt to find out the object of consciousness transforms what actually allows such an operation – the experience of being conscious, which is also the objective of the study – into an organic and disembodied demonstration of any interest at all. The work of Amit Goswami and his interpretation of quantum mechanics seem to provide us with a revolutionary possibility for understanding and adequately theorizing the universe of human consciousness without renouncing to the methods of science corpus. Goswami’s speculations will be the starting point for a comparison between quantum physics, cognitive science and the great traditions of Eastern thought; these latter always engaged in developing rigorous paths of practices and reflections about the conscious existence. The protagonists of this new and unprecedented dialogue will be Emilio Del Giudice, Mauro Bergonzi and Massimo Marraffa.

The seminar will take place on Sept. 18th, room “Ignazio Ambrogio” at the University of Roma Tre (Via del Valco San Paolo). Works will be opened at 9.30 a.m. according to the following schedule:

Emilio Del Giudice: Quantum Field Theory and the physics of living Matter. An hypothesis on psychic phenomena – abstract in PDF format

Mauro Bergonzi: Consciousness and Identity: a cross-cultural dialogue between Indian Philosophy and Western Science – abstract in PDF format

Massimo Marraffa: Consciousness Remnants – abstract in PDF format

Each talk will last about 30 min. After the break, a 20 minutes clip from Amit Goswami’s video “The Quantum Activist” (https://www.quantumactivist.com/ ) will be shown. Next, a plenary discussion session will be opened by Michele Lucantoni (researcher for the New Humanities group) and chaired by Domenico Fiormonte. The seminar will close around 1 p.m. Other participants to the discussion will be Paolo De Santis, Pier Luigi Luisi, Antonio Olivieri, Viola Padovani and all the members the New Humanities research group.

Speakers’ profiles:

Emilio del Giudice graduated in Physics and gained his MSc in Nuclear and Theoretical Physics at the University of Naples. In 2009, he gained the “Prigogine Award”. He worked as physicist in the most important and renowned research centers of the world (MIT, Niels Bohr Institute di Copenhagen, CERN di Ginevra). His interests resulted in a series of articles and essays, range from the theory of strings to the connections between physics and psycho-emotional processes.

Mauro Bergonzi is professor of “Indian Religions and Philosophies” and “General Psychology” at the University of Naples “L’Orientale”. He is a full member of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (I.A.A.P.) and of the Centro Italiano di Psicologia Analitica (C.I.P.A.). He published articles and essays about the processes of ancient Buddhism, the psychology of mysticism, about the encounter of religious east and the contemporary western world as well as on the intercultural dialogue between eastern philosophy and western psychology.

Massimo Marraffa graduated in Philosophy of Science and gained a further specialization in Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. He completed his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Roma Tre where he currently works as associate professor of Logics and Philosophy of Science since 2011.

Michele Lucantoni graduated with distinction in Philosophy of Biology in 2012 at the University of Roma Tre. He currently works for AIEMS (Associazione Italiana Metodologie Sistemiche) as curator of the “Riflessioni Sistemiche” journal. He’s full member of the “New Humanities” interdisciplinary research group at the University of Roma Tre.