The After On Podcast 26: Reality Isn't | Don Hoffman
Apr 30, 2018
In this enlightening discussion, Don Hoffman, a quantitative psychologist and researcher, challenges conventional views on reality and perception. He argues that our senses mislead us, proposing that perceptions are like desktop icons, crafted by evolution to enhance survival rather than reflect truth. Hoffman explores how different species develop unique perceptual interfaces, the brain's role as a virtual reality generator, and intriguing phenomena like synesthesia. He ultimately suggests that consciousness might be a fundamental aspect of reality, shaping our experience rather than simply reflecting it.
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Space-Time As A Desktop Interface
- Hoffman argues our perceived 3D space is a user-interface, not objective reality.
- Icons like chairs and suns hide complex underlying reality while enabling useful interactions.
Perception Is Radical Data Compression
- Perception massively compresses information (e.g., heat is a statistical summary).
- Evolution shapes these compressions to be useful, not veridical descriptions of reality.
Synesthete Cook Michael Watson
- Michael Watson, a synesthete, felt tastes as specific 3D objects and used that for cooking.
- His perceptions were useful icons, not literal resemblances to tastes.
