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Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content

#404 - What If Consciousness Is Fundamental?

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.
02:20:35

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the profound question of whether consciousness is fundamental to the universe, challenging conventional scientific and philosophical perspectives.
  • Annaka Harris discusses her extensive audio documentary series, highlighting insights from over 35 interviews with scientists on the nature of consciousness.

Deep dives

Violet's Wise Advice

A charming story unfolds as a parent expresses nervousness about an upcoming interview, seeking advice from their daughter, Violet. Her innocent yet humorous suggestion not to cry showcases her youthful perspective and adds a light-hearted tone to the moment. This interaction highlights the familial bond and the importance of communication within a long-term relationship. It emphasizes that even in stressful situations, simple wisdom can come from the most unexpected sources.

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