Join us to watch - as a group - the Voltaire Lecture 2025, in which Professor Anil Seth will set out an approach to understanding consciousness. He will consider whether consciousness might depend not just on ‘information processing’, but on properties unique to living, biological organisms, before ending with an exploration of the ethical implications of an artificial intelligence that is either actually conscious, or can convincingly pretend to be. After the lecture we will hold a group discussion on what we might have learned; we may even continue this in the pub!

Anil Seth is a neuroscientist, author, and public speaker who has pioneered research into the brain basis of consciousness for more than 20 years. He is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and Director of the Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex.

The Voltaire Lecture explores ‘any aspect of scientific or philosophical thought or human activity as affected by or with particular reference to humanism’. The lecture and medal are named for the philosopher Voltaire.

We will be watching a live online streaming of this event, which is taking place in London.

Our event is free, but we would appreciate a donation of £5 or more if you can afford it. Donations support the local group and enable us to continue putting on events.