Every year from 1998 to 2018 John Brockman posed a question to Edge Members. You can see all my answers here or select individual contributions below.
The last Edge Question 2018. What is the last question? My answer was “What kinds of minds could solve the mind-body problem?”
The Edge Question 2017. What scientific term or concept ought to be more widely known? My answer was “Replicator power”
The Edge Question 2016. What do you consider the most interesting recent [scientific] news? What makes it important? My answer was ‘That dress’
The Edge Question 2015. What do you think about machines that think? My answer was “The next replicator”. Also translated into German in Süddeutsche Zeitung, and summarised in Brainpickings.
The Edge Question 2014. What scientific idea is ready for retirement? My answer: The neural correlates of consciousness.
The Edge Question 2013. What should we be worried about? My response “Losing our hands”
The Edge question 2012. What is your favourite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation? My answer was Evolution by means of natural selection.
The Edge Question 2011. What scientific concept would improve everybody’s cognitive toolkit? My answer was “Correlation is not a cause”.
The Edge Question 2010. How is the Internet changing the way you think? My answer was “Self and the Third Replicator.”
The Edge Question 2009. “What will change everything?”. See my answer “Artificial, self-replicating, meme machines”
The Edge Question 2008. “What have you changed your mind about?” See my answer “The Paranormal”
The Edge Question 2007. “What are you optimistic about?” See my answer “Our civilisation will survive the coming climate catastrophe”
The Edge Question 2006. My answer was “Everything is pointless”.
The Edge Question 2005 – “What do you believe is true, even though you cannot prove it?” My answer was “It is possible to live happily and morally without believing in free will”. (and in German, Frankfurter Allgemeine and Der Spiegel on line)
The Edge Question 2004. “What’s your law?” My answer was Blackmore’s Law
The Edge Question 2003. “What are the pressing scientific issues for the nation and the world, and what is your advice on how I can begin to deal with them? My answer was “A letter to the President”
The Edge Question 2001. “What questions have disappeared?” My answer was “Do we survive death?”
The Edge Question 1999. “What is the most important invention in the last 2000 years?” My answer was “Birth control”