Making Sense with Sam Harris cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris

#322 — Predicting Reality

Jun 13, 2023
Andy Clark, a Professor of cognitive philosophy at the University of Sussex, shares his insights on the brain's predictive abilities. He discusses how our perception shapes reality, the role of predictions in managing pain and emotions, and the impact of psychedelics on cognitive processing. The conversation highlights the intersection of mindfulness with anxiety, presenting it as a physical experience to be transformed. Their exploration delves into the complexities of consciousness and how understanding our predictions can enhance well-being.
54:04

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Our brains constantly predict to construct reality, shaping perception through sensory inputs.
  • Precision weighting in predictions determines reactions to novelty and emotions, impacting perception and well-being.

Deep dives

Understanding the Predictive Brain Hypothesis

The podcast delves into the concept of the predictive brain hypothesis, highlighting how our brains continuously make predictions about sensory inputs to construct our reality. It explains how these predictions shape our perception, emphasizing that our experiences are based on the interplay between these predictions and sensory information.

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