

#404 - What If Consciousness Is Fundamental?
56 snips Mar 25, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Annaka Harris, a New York Times bestselling author and producer of the audio documentary series "Lights On," delves into the mysteries of consciousness and its potential fundamental role in the universe. She and Sam discuss the hard problem of consciousness, exploring what split-brain patients reveal about our awareness. They also examine how modern physics challenges our understanding of space and time, suggesting these concepts might be emergent rather than fundamental. The dialogue encourages listeners to reimagine reality itself.
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Violet's Interview Advice
- Annaka Harris shares a story about her daughter Violet's advice for her podcast interview.
- Violet, unsure about interviews, simply advises, "Don't cry."
The Hard Problem of Consciousness
- Consciousness is defined by internal experience, unlike externally observable phenomena like light or life.
- The hard problem asks how non-conscious matter can create subjective experience.
Annaka's Shift in Understanding
- Annaka initially struggled with the hard problem, arguing for physicalism.
- Sam Harris helped her understand its unique challenge, inspiring the series title "Lights On."