Professor Thomas K. Metzinger

Professor Thomas K. Metzinger

Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Thomas Metzinger's research focus lies in analytical philosophy of mind and cognitive science, as well as in connections between ethics, philosophy of mind and anthropology. He is the recipient of several awards and Fellowships, including a Fellowship by the Gutenberg Research College and a Research Professorship from the German Ministry of Science, Education and Culture. Metzinger was the Director of the Neuroethics Research Unit in Mainz and Director of the MIND Group at the FIAS. He is past president of the German Cognitive Science Society and of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.

Metzinger edited two collections on consciousness and wrote a major monograph developing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary theory about consciousness, the phenomenal self, and the first-person perspective (“Being No One” MIT Press). His popular science book The Ego Tunnel – The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self (New York: Basic Books) discusses the ethical, cultural and social consequences of consciousness research. Metzinger, with Monash's Jennifer Windt, created the freely available Open Mind-collection.

Metzinger was a key member of the EU’s High-level Expert Group on artificial intelligence. A life-long meditator himself, Metzinger contributes widely to the scientific and philosophical understanding of contemplative practices. He is the founder and director of the MPE-project, a (currently growing) network of more serious researchers investigating the experience of pure awareness in meditation.

Thomas Metzinger is invited to the Advisory Committee as an expert in interdisciplinary philosophy of mind and consciousness with a deep knowledge of contemplative practices, and for his experience and network connections within international and national organisations.