Ways of Knowing: Tom Stoppard and Carey Perloff (@8:00)

Why should physical processing give rise to a rich inner life at all? It seems objectively unreasonable that it should, and yet it does.  David Chalmers, “Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness”

Join Academy and Tony award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Arcadia, Brazil) and American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff in an intimate conversation with Exploratorium Executive Associate Director Robert Semper about A.C.T.’s upcoming production ofThe Hard Problem. This is Stoppard’s provocative new drama of sex, science, and supercomputing. In his first play in nearly a decade, he grapples with consciousness as well as genetics, bringing the compelling conflict of mind versus matter to the stage.

Interspersed with readings from the play, we’ll talk with Stoppard and Perloff about his works that often explore what happens when complex scientific principles and the human condition collide.

While you’re here, we encourage you to visit our Science of Sharing exhibition in the Osher West Gallery to explore the science behind Stoppard’s play.

Book signings of Stoppard's The Hard Problem: A Play, Arcadia: A Play, and Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 and Perloff's Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater will follow the conversation.