Our grad school friend Dave Chalmers has become quite the world famous philosopher. He deserves it. Tom Stoppard, our very most favorite playwright on the planet wrote a play inspired by Dave’s “Hard Problem” (consciousness).

The two got together for a public chat to the sold out audience of over 300 at the WILMA in Philadelphia. Fantastic. (The whole Philly trip was superb.)

Tom Stoppard and Dave Chalmers

Tom Stoppard and Dave Chalmers

Tom Stoppard

Tom Stoppard

Dave Chalmers

Dave Chalmers

The stage is set

The stage is set

Even more fun than the public chat was a visit afterwards to Charlie was a Sinner with a group of about 20 academics and theater types. We knew Dave was coming out, but we were psyched that he brought along Tom! (More about the bar and the drinks.)

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Amy and Tom at Charlie

Amy and Tom at Charlie

Smoke break for Tom. Takling about Searle's Chinese room.

Smoke break for Tom. Takling about Searle’s Chinese room.

Consciousness Explained

Consciousness Explained

“We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.”
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

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You can find the entire WILMA conversation here.