Philosopher Acharya Prashant and cognitive neuroscientist Professor Steve Fleming engaged in a public dialogue on self-knowledge, metacognition, and consciousness at University College London (UCL) on July 9. Titled “Thinking About Thinking,” this session marked the conclusion of Acharya Prashant’s UK tour, which included various prestigious venues.
The event drew a full hall of students who enthusiastically applauded the speakers, leading to an extended question-and-answer session. Dr. Megan Peters, a Lecturer in Computational Cognition at UCL, moderated the discussion, highlighting the significance of self-awareness and metacognition in human inquiry.
Acharya Prashant, recognized as one of the world’s most influential living thinkers, emphasized the distinction between metacognition and self-knowledge using an analogy involving a vehicle’s speedometer. Professor Fleming, known for his work on metacognition and consciousness, lauded the analogy and shared insights on the brain’s role in monitoring its own performance.
The dialogue delved into the complexities of the human mind, with discussions on memory, ego, and the need for external perspectives in self-inquiry. Both speakers emphasized the importance of honesty and self-examination in understanding one’s true nature and the limitations of the ego in this process.
