PhenCoCo stands for Phenomenology ° Cognition ° Computation. We are a transnational community of researchers working on contemporary cognitive science and technologies, at the intersection of phenomenological reflection and analytic, computational topics. Scientific inquiry — including philosophy as an integral part — is understood as a shared, open, and voluntary practice of making cognitive and societal processes intelligible. We take time to think. — since 2013 — as a practice of slow, shared reflection.
The Colloquia are held roughly monthly, shaped by ongoing projects and collective focus, online via Discord on Wednesdays at 19:30 CET or on Saturdays from 12:00 CET. Invited speakers from different disciplines share perspectives from their research and areas of expertise, followed by an open, in-depth interdisciplinary discussion. Questions unfold without haste; ideas take shape through shared reflection. (Yes, we do love science — and we use our leasure time for it ;))
Our Open Science Dinners are informal dinner conversations at Café Marral, Torstraße 222, 10115 Berlin, held monthly on Thursdays from 19:00 CET. These evenings continue ongoing lines of inquiry shaped by recent sessions and shared interests.
Special Guest Workshops offer a flexible format for slow reading and sustained small-group dialogue. We engage with selected books or text collections read individually in advance, to prepare dedicated author sessions to discuss contextualisation, conceptual clarification, and collective interpretation. These events are announced separately with dedicated programme information.
You are welcome to join us on Discord. The invitation link is updated regularly. If inactive, simply email to request access. (If you prefer not to create a Discord account, let us know; an alternative, privacy-respecting option is in preparation.) Our working language is English. Simultaneous translation is available.
To see our past events with selected materials, please visit the archive.
Current Events
Colloqium #40
AI and Consciousness
Mar 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm CET
Description
The question of consciousness has been debated in philosophical and scientific circles for as long as they have existed. But they were mostly concerned with other beings that were similar to ourselves. Beings like Great Apes in science, or beloved pets in folk psychology were considered conscious. … read more
Moderation
B : B is a hyperactive IT professional with a background in data science and biology. After studying Bioinformatics in Berlin, he entered the startup … read more
Open Science Dinner #∞
Optional Science Dinner April26
Mar 26, 2026 at 7:00 pm CET
Description
Our Science Dinners are informal dinner conversations that create space for open exchange across philosophy, science, and related fields. They invite participants to think together, share perspectives, and continue lines of inquiry emerging from the Colloquia.
Open Science Dinner #∞
Open Science Dinner April 2026
Apr 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm CEST
Description
Our Science Dinners are informal dinner conversations that create space for open exchange across philosophy, science, and related fields. They invite participants to think together, share perspectives, and continue lines of inquiry emerging from the Colloquia.
Colloqium #41
Tacit Experience and Background Exploitation: The Anthropological Challenge of Artificial Attention - FINAL DATE PENDING
Apr 15, 2026 at 7:30 pm CEST
Description
When we interact with ChatGPT, a navigation system, or a voice assistant, something happens that is not quite captured by the question: „Do I believe this thing is conscious?“ Before we make any judgment at all, something else is already at play—a pre-reflective, felt dimension of the interaction. … read more
Speakers
Tom Poljanšek: Tom Poljanšek studied Philosophy and Modern German Literature. He earned his PhD in 2019 at the University of Stuttgart with a dissertation on the … read more