

Annaka Harris On Consciousness
31 snips Aug 12, 2019
Annaka Harris, author of "Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind," brings her insights as a neuroscience and physics editor. She delves into the nature of consciousness, questioning its origins and implications for ethical dilemmas. The conversation challenges traditional views, exploring consciousness in all beings and its connections to free will and spirituality. Annaka also discusses the role of mindfulness in transforming pain and how teaching meditation to children can foster mental wellness and curiosity in young minds.
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Challenging Intuitions
- Challenging intuitions is crucial for scientific breakthroughs.
- This involves questioning assumptions, even seemingly obvious ones, to understand reality better.
Defining Consciousness
- Consciousness, in its most fundamental form, is best described as 'experience'.
- It's the state of there being 'something it's like' to be an organism, unlike inanimate objects.
Evolutionary Advantage of Consciousness
- The existence of consciousness raises questions about its evolutionary purpose.
- Why did we develop subjective experience, unlike hypothetical 'philosophical zombies'?