Anil Seth, a neuroscientist and author of "Being You," alongside fellow neuroscientist David Eagleman, dive deep into the nature of self and consciousness. They discuss the illusion of self, emphasizing how our brain constructs reality based on sensory inputs. Personal anecdotes from a silent meditation retreat illustrate the transformative experience of dropping the illusion. The conversation challenges listeners to rethink identity, perception, and the philosophical implications of consciousness, merging science with profound personal insights.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Loss of Self
During a silent meditation retreat, Annaka Harris experienced a loss of self.
Walking meditation helped her achieve this state where experiences unfolded without a central "I."
insights INSIGHT
People vs. Objects
The concept of self feels different with people than with inanimate objects.
This difference arises because our brains and memories create a sense of a continuous self.
insights INSIGHT
Interoception and Feelings
Interoception is the brain's perception of internal bodily signals.
This creates feelings like hunger, sadness, and fear, which are constructed interpretations, not direct readouts.
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Gerald Edelman's "Bright Air, Brilliant Fire" is a comprehensive exploration of consciousness from a neuroscientific perspective. Edelman challenges traditional views of the mind and proposes a theory of consciousness based on his research on neural networks and the brain's capacity for complex information processing. The book delves into the biological basis of consciousness, exploring topics such as memory, perception, and the self. Edelman's work is highly influential in the field of neuroscience and continues to inspire research on the nature of consciousness. The book is known for its clear and engaging writing style, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a wider audience.
Being You
A New Science of Consciousness
Anil Seth
In 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness,' Anil Seth presents a radical new theory of consciousness, arguing that we are 'prediction machines' constantly inventing and correcting our perception of the world. The book delves into the biological mechanisms of the brain, exploring how billions of neurons create our conscious experience. Seth discusses the 'controlled hallucination' viewpoint, active inference, and the 'beast machine' theory, which views consciousness as a process of regulating the body's essential variables through interoceptive signals. The book is a synthesis of philosophy, science, literature, and personal experience, making complex science accessible and engaging[1][3][5].
Brain Twist
Brain Twist
Clive Gifford
Most people can understand the illusion of self intellectually, but it’s another thing to grasp it on an experiential level—to know what it’s like to move through the world without the illusion. It is, in fact, possible to be aware of all of the usual things (sights, sounds, even thoughts) without feeling like the subject of all of those things or like a “self” who experiences those things. But this is something that’s quite difficult to communicate through language, which fails us when we’re trying to describe an experience to someone who hasn’t had it before.
In Chapter 5, Annaka walks the audience through her personal experience of attending a silent meditation retreat and dropping the illusion of self in meditation. She then speaks with two neuroscientists, Anil Seth and David Eagleman, about the experience of self at the level of the brain.
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