Philosophy For Our Times Do we really experience reality? | Graham Harman, Donald Hoffman & Mazviita Chirimuuta
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May 25, 2021 
Graham Harman, a philosopher of object-oriented ontology, joins cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman, known for his work on perception, and philosopher Mazviita Chirimuuta, who specializes in the philosophy of mind. They dive into the captivating question of whether our perceptions truly reflect reality or are merely evolutionary adaptations. Topics include the perception paradox influenced by synesthesia, the indirect nature of accessing reality, and the limitations of human cognition. They also discuss the diverse perceptions of non-human entities, inviting a reevaluation of consciousness.
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Synesthesia Cooking Advantage
- Michael Watson tasted flavours as three-dimensional shapes and used that to cook exceptionally well.
- This synesthesia example shows how divergent sensory mappings can still be highly adaptive.
Evolution Favors Useful Interfaces
- Hoffman claims evolutionary game theory proves perception structures will almost surely not match objective reality.
- He concludes evolution favors useful 'interfaces' rather than veridical representations of the world.
Perception Always Transforms Reality
- Graham Harman argues perception always transforms what it accesses, so direct unaltered translation from world to mind is impossible.
- He accepts reality has individuation but insists it need not resemble our perceived objects.