In this episode Curt Jaimungal talks with neuroscientist Anil Seth about the nature of consciousness, the Bayesian brain model, and the implications of language and philosophy from Sapir‑Whorf to Daniel Dennett. They explore perception, illusion, free will, and even the prospects of mind uploading, weaving together neuroscience, philosophy, and AI.
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:08 - What's alluring about "consciousness" research?
- 01:03:51 - Defining "phenomenology"
- 02:05:56 - What does it mean to "explain" consciousness?
- 03:14:52 - Difference between illusion and hallucination
- 04:18:16 - If perception is tuned for fitness, why care about objective reality?
- 05:24:44 - Applying Donald Hoffman's ideas to Anil Seth's
- 06:33:39 - Does time actually slow down, during high valence emotions
- 07:36:31 - Details on the Bayesian model of consciousness
- 08:41:50 - Can you be wrong about your own perceptions?
- 09:46:29 - Myth of left brain vs. right brain
- 10:54:31 - The role of the "ego" and the loss of it
- 11:56:45 - Consciousness and quantum mechanics
- 13:00:37 - Sapir Whorf hypothesis and Curt's polemics
- 14:10:24 - Language and conscious experience
- 15:13:33 - Can I "see" without noticing? What's the difference?
- 16:17:27 - The Bayesian model of consciousness (and its limitations)
- 17:25:16 - How does the Bayesian model deal with mental disorders
- 18:36:26 - Gödel's incompleteness theorem's implications on the computational nature of the brain
- 19:42:23 - Can we upload our minds? (a neuroscientific perspective)
- 20:45:48 - Integrated Information Theory and measuring Phi
- 21:50:21 - Peter Lush's recent paper and undermining the rubber hand illusion
- 22:55:09 - Placebo effect and hypnosis
- 24:01:25 - Experiments involving psychedelics (LSD and microdosing)
- 25:04:01 - Anil's personal insights from psychedelics
- 26:06:18 - Anil's views on Daniel Dennett's "Explaining Consciousness"
- 27:12:26 - Compatibilism, free will, and Douglas Hofstadter
- 28:15:21 - Global Workspace Theory
- 29:19:45 - Anil Seth and Pragmatism
- 30:22:39 - Curt's list of final questions, repudiated
- 31:23:35 - How do the various AI architectures relate to the brain? (GAN / Convultional / etc.)
- 32:32:17 - How does Anil stay so fit?
- 33:33:44 - Comporting rationalism with irrational behaviors
RESOURCES:
- Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44
- Anil Seth's Links WEBSITE: https://anilseth.com
- TWITTER: https://twitter.com/anilkseth
- TED TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyu7v7nWzfo
- http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
