Commune with Jeff Krasno The Mystery of Consciousness with Annaka Harris | Lights On
May 1, 2025
Annaka Harris, a New York Times bestselling author known for her book on consciousness, dives deep into the intriguing mysteries of the mind. She and Jeff explore the 'hard problem' of consciousness, pondering its existence beyond mere brain activity. They discuss philosophical ideas like idealism and panpsychism, and even touch on the impact of psychedelics and near-death experiences. With wit and insight, they challenge traditional views and highlight consciousness's profound interconnection with reality.
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Consciousness as Felt Experience
- Consciousness is fundamentally the presence of felt experience, regardless of complexity or self-awareness.
- It questions why certain matter configurations have inner experiences while others do not, known as the hard problem of consciousness.
Consciousness May Pervade All Matter
- Annaka doubts plants have consciousness, but recognizes similarities to animals in information processing.
- She leans towards consciousness being fundamental and pervasive across all matter in the universe.
Avoiding Labels on Consciousness
- Annaka views consciousness as fundamental but rejects traditional panpsychism and idealism labels.
- She resists fixed belief systems and believes science must explore consciousness's true nature without bias.
