What is it like to be a bat? (1974) [pdf]
![What is it like to be a bat? (1974) [pdf]](https://pub-90f0ac00d93c47daac3e1d2cdd28d496.r2.dev/articles/efb418ea8d9955f313cd3422e6f47d3d.webp)
sas.upenn.edu
June 10, 2026
1 min read
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48/100
Summary
Nagel explores the subjective experience of being a bat, emphasizing the limitations of human understanding of consciousness. The essay argues that understanding another being's experience is fundamentally constrained by our own perceptual and cognitive frameworks.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The discussion around consciousness and decision-making in AI models reflects a growing understanding of how these systems can represent and engage with their environments.
- Comparing human experience to AI embeddings highlights the complexity of representation in both biological and artificial systems, suggesting a deeper connection between consciousness and AI.
Concerns
- The article's exploration of consciousness lacks depth, leading to a perception of it as a tautology rather than a meaningful philosophical inquiry.
- There is a clear divide in understanding consciousness between materialists and those who believe in dualism or panpsychism, which complicates discussions about AI's potential for consciousness.